Dec 17: Digital Media Safe in Airport X-Ray Machines

Press Release - Travelers Still Strongly Advised to Request Hand Inspection of High-Speed Film

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., DECEMBER 16, 2004 – Recent tests found no evidence of X-ray scanner damage to digital camera media cards or to the images they hold. The tests of scanner models currently in use in the U.S. transportation industry were jointly conducted by the International Imaging Industry Association, the leading global association for the imaging industry; SanDisk® Corporation, a manufacturer of digital media cards; and the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

These findings mean that digital cameras and their image storage media can travel safely in either checked or carry-on bags, which will be reassuring to holiday travelers. And though they were not explicitly tested, it is likely that images on camera-phones will be safe in either situation as well. More care is needed for cameras with film, however, as the X-ray scanners for both checked and carry-on luggage can fog both developed and undeveloped film.

“Our tests should put travelers' fears to rest, that their digitally captured holiday memories won't be damaged in transit,” said Lisa Walker, I3A President. “Digital cameras and media can safely go in carry-ons without the need for hand-inspection, which will simplify security checks and make those long lines move a little faster.”

The tests of digital media took place at the TSA Security Laboratory in Atlantic City, N.J. A broad selection of media and devices from a range of manufacturers, loaded with detailed images, was subjected to repeated passes through X-ray scanners matching those now in use at transportation facilities. At the end of the tests, the images were unaltered and the devices showed no sign of damage. Complete details on the tested media cards, test protocols and results can be downloaded from http://www.i3a.org/itip.html.

Separate tests were conducted at the same facility to determine whether the walk-through metal detectors or hand-held metal detector wands have any effect on digital image storage media. As with the X-ray scanners, no damage to media or images was perceived from either of these devices.

The technical support center at SanDisk, a prominent manufacturer of digital media, has been closely monitoring the X-ray issue for several years. As SanDisk ships over a million flash memory cards per week, any issues from security devices would quickly become apparent, but the company has received fewer than a dozen reports per year of problems with airport security systems.

“The Atlantic City lab tests confirm our own observations about the durability of digital media. SanDisk tests have shown that images can be stored for years on flash media cards, without deterioration,” said Wes Brewer, SanDisk vice president of consumer products marketing. “In fact, we advise travelers that leaving their images on flash memory cards provides the most durable and dependable method of storing and transporting them. Although the various forms and brands of flash memory cards have different manufacturing processes, consumers who buy recognized brands from reliable sources should have no concerns about traveling with their cards through airport check-points.”

The digital media test program is an ongoing initiative of I3A's Integrity in Transportation of Imaging Products (ITIP) Committee, which is composed of representatives from Agfa Corporation, Eastman Kodak Company, Ferrania Imaging Technologies, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Hewlett Packard Company, Ilford Imaging Group, Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, Photo Marketing Association International, Photo-Sensitized Materials Manufacturers Association and Sony Electronics.

ITIP has conducted extensive tests over a period of years to assess the effects of security scanning on film products. Test results to date indicate that the X-ray scanners used for screening carry-on bags will damage high-speed film (ISO 800 or greater). For lower-speed film, the problem appears to be cumulative: the majority of damage has been reported when film has undergone more than five passes through X-ray machines.

Accordingly, I3A advises travelers to request hand inspection of their high-speed (ISO 800 or greater) film products, which is explicitly permitted by law. Hand inspection of lower speed film is recommended only when the film has already been subjected to five trips through X-ray scanners. The screening machines used to screen checked baggage and some cargo will damage all film, regardless of speed. Therefore, I3A and the TSA both advise travelers to carry their film with them and never put it in checked bags.

To help make sure the hand inspection service is consistently available, ITIP has enlisted I3A members in an ongoing effort to gather information on implementation of airport film warnings and advisory signage in U.S. airports; the collected reports are summarized and forwarded to TSA.

“Helping passengers understand how to safely and properly carry their film through security screening is certainly a key element of our customer service efforts at TSA,” said Ron Sokolov, Executive Director for Customer Service at the Transportation Security Administration. “Our partnership with I3A has been instrumental in evaluating the impact of our screening technologies on different film media and then getting this information to a wide audience that includes amateur and professional photographers.”

When the TSA was established in 2001, I3A formed the ITIP Committee to work with TSA to address the issues arising from the effects on imaging products in transit of increased security measures in transportation. In December 2002, I3A and TSA jointly issued guidelines to help travelers protect their film and cameras from security scanning equipment. ITIP's charter also includes advising authorities specifying and implementing new postal sanitization equipment about its effects on imaging materials and how to protect those materials from damage. I3A's research, reports and guidelines are available to the public at no charge on its Web site, www.i3a.org .

About the International Imaging Industry Association (I3A)

I3A is the leading global imaging industry association, driving growth of and setting standards for the photographic and information imaging markets. As the industry focal point, I3A offers a framework and environment where members can quickly find resources to solve critical issues and develop market solutions. Members of I3A work together to find common ground for advancing the industry and to enable better products and services for their customers.

I3A is an accredited Standards Developing Organization, serving as secretariat for the International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee 42 (ISO/TC42) on Photography, and as administrator for the USA Technical Advisory Group for this committee. Information about I3A can be found on the World Wide Web at www.i3a.org or by phone at 914-285-4933.

About SanDisk
SanDisk Corporation is the original inventor of flash memory cards and is the world's largest supplier of flash memory data storage card products using its patented, high-density flash memory and controller technology. SanDisk is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif. and has operations worldwide, with more than half its sales outside the United States. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.sandisk.com .

Dec 17: Digital Camera Revenue to Reach $24 Billion in 2004

Press Release
Worldwide Digital Camera Revenue to Reach $24 Billion in 2004

WEYMOUTH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 16, 2004--According to a new study from InfoTrends/CAP Ventures, worldwide digital camera revenue is forecast to reach $24 billion in 2004, and grow to $31 billion in 2009. The top three regions for digital camera sales in 2004 are Europe, the United States and Japan.

The digital camera market is growing quickly in Asia and Rest of World regions (ROW). The digital camera market in Japan has entered the late majority stage of adoption, and the U.S. and Europe will enter this stage within the next few years. Meanwhile, Asia and ROW will keep growing, up from a combined 10% share of worldwide revenue in 2004 to 33% by 2009.

Sensor resolution continues to be the primary specification that consumers rely on to compare the performance and quality of digital cameras. “Even though resolution does not always equate to image quality, it is an easy metric for consumers to compare, and so the pixel race will continue,” said Michelle Slaughter, Director of Digital Photography Trends at InfoTrends/CAP Ventures. This year manufacturers introduced several 7 and 8 megapixel models, and by 2009, these resolution segments are expected to be mainstream segments for point & shoot cameras.

As resolution increases, manufacturers must also advance image processing speed to handle the larger files. “Consumers recognize the need for speed when they complain about shutter lag and click-to-click speed,” says Slaughter. “As a result, manufacturers are trying to raise brand awareness of their image processors, and consumers may eventually learn that image processors are also a key component influencing their satisfaction.”

The top five worldwide market leaders in 2004 are, in rank order, Canon, Sony, Olympus, Kodak and Fuji. These companies are expected to remain in the top five in 2005, though their rank within the top five may change.

InfoTrends/CAP Ventures' report entitled 2004 Worldwide Consumer Digital Camera Forecast Summary is available immediately. It provides market forecast summaries for the United States, Europe, Japan, Asia, and Rest of World. It sizes the consumer digital camera market, examines key vendors, trends and pixel segments, and projects unit shipments, revenues, and price declines through 2009 by region. InfoTrends/CAP Ventures' in-depth regional forecast reports for the United States and Europe are also available.

Dec 16: Canon 20D Review - Sports Shooter

Sports Shooter reviews the Canon 20D and writes - 'Is this a camera body I would buy INSTEAD of a pro - level model? If I were making my living in sports and news photography, probably not. If my livelihood depended on my equipment, I think I would tend to learn toward something that would withstand the use (or is it abuse?) that Sports Shooters and PJ's subject their gear to.

However this is a great camera, make no mistake about that, one that would work well as a primary body for many photographers working out there. Even for PJ's, its size and weight make it appealing for many situations and uses. For the money, there is not a better deal out there for Canon shooters.'

Read more about the Canon 20D

UK Readers Buy the “Canon Eos 20D Digital SLR”
US Readers Buy the “Canon EOS 20D Digital SLR”

Dec 16: Nikon Coolpix 8800 Review - DCRP

DCRP Reviews the Nikon Coolpix 8800 and writes - 'The Nikon Coolpix 8800 is a high resolution ultra zoom camera that I can recommend to everyone except action shooters. That's because I found the 8800's performance to be, shall we say, a little lacking. This is especially noticeable in terms of focus speed (average at best), shot-to-shot delays, and image playback speed. Continuing shooting was frustrating due to LCD blackouts between shots. If these things aren't critical, then the 8800 is a heck of a camera. It features a 10X optical zoom lens with VR image stabilization technology that works very well. Photo quality is good, with fairly sharp photos, accurate color, and nearly no purple fringing. As is the case with other 8MP cameras, noise levels are above average, especially at higher ISO sensitivities. And, just like with other Nikon cameras, macro performance on the 8800 is very good. The movie mode is nice too, but it would be a lot better without the time limit at the highest quality setting.'

Read more about the Nikon Coolpix 8800

US Readers Buy the “Nikon Coolpix 8800 8MP Digital Camera”
UK Readers Buy the “Nikon Coolpix 8800 Digital Camera”

Dec 16: Hamrick VueScan 8.1.14 for Canon and Epson Scanners

Hamrick Software Press Release
Uses advanced IT8 color calibration technique to get accurate colors. No other vendor supports all of Canon and Epson professional and consumer scanner products. VueScan 8.1.14 supports 45 different Canon scanners and 66 different Epson scanners, including film scanners, flatbed scanners, and multi-function printer/scanners.

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) December 15, 2004 – Hamrick Software, a leading developer of scanning software for consumers and professionals, has released VueScan 8.1.14, its award-winning program that enables users to more easily produce better looking digital images from color snapshots, negatives, slides, and documents.

VueScan 8.1.14 produces scans on all Epson and Canon scanners that have accurate, true to life colors. VueScan uses a custom-developed IT8 color calibration technique to achieve this. VueScan 8.1.14 also significantly improves the speed of display refreshes and saving files.

No other vendor supports all of Canon and Epson professional and consumer scanner products. VueScan 8.1.14 supports 45 different Canon scanners and 66 different Epson scanners, including film scanners, flatbed scanners, and multi-function printer/scanners.

“Canon and Epson scanners are among the worlds’ most widely sold scanners,” noted Ed Hamrick, president of Hamrick Software. “VueScan’s well-known capabilities in producing high-quality scans will compliment the high-quality scanner hardware from Canon and Epson to produce outstanding results.”

Used extensively by professional photographers, film processing labs and consumers around the world, VueScan 8.1.14 now offers an enhanced, user-friendly interface with support for raw files for 109 digital cameras, and support for more than 400 scanners.

The Standard Edition of VueScan costs $59.95 USD and the Professional Edition costs $99.95 for a single user license. Multi-user licenses are available. A fully functional, trial copy of VueScan can be downloaded from http://www.hamrick.com/.

VueScan is available for Mac OS X, Windows and Linux. It automatically adjusts images to optimum color balance, which reduces the need to manually do this in Photoshop. VueScan includes built-in color calibration of scanners, producing colors that look true to life. Supporting more than 100 brands of negative film, VueScan offers options for scanning faded slides and prints; batch scanning, IT8 color calibration and other advanced scanning features.

For a detailed listing of VueScan features see: http://www.hamrick.com/abo.html

Based in Phoenix, AZ, Hamrick Software was founded in 1991. Its first product was VuePrint, an easy to use JPEG viewer for Windows that for many years was the recommended image viewer for AOL, with more than 100,000 users. In 1998, the company first released VueScan, a program for scanning with flatbed and film scanners with more than 50,000 users all over the world.

Dec 16: PC Pro exposes inkjets

'Extensive testing by PC Pro's labs has revealed that photographs produced by inkjet printers can be both far more expensive than those from traditional photo processors and fade far more quickly. But not if you choose the right combination of printer, ink and paper.

For a period of twelve months PC Pro's staff tracked how 150 colour photographs produced by inkjet printers from leading manufacturers survived being exposed to normal air and daylight.'

Read more at PC Pro: News: PC Pro exposes inkjets

Dec 16: Best Digital Imaging Products of theYear - PC Mag

PC Magazine wrap up the year with their Best of theYear feature which covers everything from notebooks to digital cameras.

Taking out the prize in the Digital Camera Enthusiast section is the Olympus C-8080 and the Leica Digilux 2.

Winning the DSLR section is the Nikon D70 and the Canon EOS 20D

Their Photo Printer of the year is the Canon i9900 Photo Printer

Lastly they award the Epson PictureMate as their favorite Dedicated Photo Printer

Dec 16: Fujifilm UK announce S3 Pro Price

Those eagerly awaiting the release of the Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro will be happy to know it is one step closer to being released with the price today being officially released. Fujifilm UK have set a price of £1599 (or approx $US2500). The S3 Pro will be in stores in January 2005.

Fujifilm Press Release
Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro: the digital SLR that’s tuned for image quality

Any photographer who has thought hard about their choice of film, and whose work is geared towards ultimate image quality, will understand the appeal of the Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro.

Representing the company’s pursuit of film photography standards for the digital world, the FinePix S3 Pro introduces Fujifilm's unique Super CCD SR II – dual pixel technology that is technically inspired by the structure of silver halide crystals in color negative film.

Pre Order the “Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro 12MP Digital SLR Camera”

The new sensor produces 12.34 million effective pixels in 6.17 locations, combining 6.17 million high-sensitivity S-pixels and the same number of low-sensitivity R-pixels. Thanks to a newly developed image processor, the FinePix S3 Pro achieves exceptional image quality with a fourfold increase in dynamic range over non-SR Super CCD sensors, rich color reproduction, high signal to noise ratio (lower noise at higher sensitivities) and tonality that was previously impossible to generate with digital cameras.

The FinePix S3 Pro’s designers have been able to make full use of Fujifilm’s extensive color film expertise. For instance, rather than force photographers to shoot in RAW mode and spend time on an extensive workflow process, Fujifilm has introduced Film Simulation Modes, dynamic range presets and color space selection.

Once the photographer is familiar with these settings, they will be able to produce JPEG images straight from the camera, which require no post-production. Photographers can choose between smooth, extended tonality and natural skin tones, or the dramatic impact of highly saturated color The FinePix S3 Pro’s Film Simulation Mode is the equivalent of changing film type to suit shooting conditions, and achieves this at the touch of a button.

The FinePix S3 Pro is designed from the photographer's viewpoint. The body design of the camera has been developed with significant improvements in versatility and ease of use. Dual shutter release buttons are provided for both landscape and portrait compositions, and dual LCD monitors confirm shooting settings and composition at a glance, without the need to scroll through menus. In addition, the body has been sculpted and rubberized to provide a solid grip.

For the first time on any digital SLR, a pre-exposure Live Image Mode has been incorporated to enable photographers to frame and focus images without the need to use the viewfinder. Activated for up to 30 seconds prior to a normal exposure, Live Image Mode is ideal for shots using a tripod as well as effective capture of candid images.

The FinePix S3 Pro features two D-TTL compatible flash interfaces (hot shoe and synchro terminal) and dual media slots, making it compatible with xD-Picture Cards™ , CompactFlash™ and Microdrive™ cards up to 4GB capacity.

Expandable shooting options are achievable thanks to the FinePix S3 Pro's compatibility with Nikon-fit lenses and accessories, including the latest ‘DX’-designated options, giving plenty of scope for further shooting control.

The FinePix S3 Pro comes bundled with Hyper Utility Software HS-V2 Ver. 3.0 which enables high-quality RAW data conversion, and incorporates an image viewer, PC control functions and expanded color processing options.

FinePix S3 Pro features at a glance:
Super CCD SR II sensor delivering 12.34 million effective pixels (6.17m S-pixels + 6.17m R-pixels)
4,256 x 2,848 (12.1 million) recorded pixels
Film Simulation Modes to replicate the results of various reversal and professional portrait color negative films
Improved and adjustable dynamic range by changing the mixing ratio of the 'S' and 'R' pixels
Dual shutter release buttons (for horizontal/vertical orientation)
Dual LCD monitors
New 2“, 235,000 pixel LCD monitor
Sensitivity: ISO 100, 160, 200, 400, 800, 1600
Dual flash interfaces to support hot shoe and synchro terminal options
D-TTL flash metering
Nikon F-Mount for compatibility with Nikon lenses
Nikkor D and G-type lens support
High speed dual image interfaces (IEEE 1394 and USB 2.0)
Live Image Mode for accurate image preview, focusing and framing
Lightning fast start-up
Selectable RAW capture modes
USB 2.0 and FireWire connectivity
xD-Picture Card™ and CompactFlash™ / Microdrive™ media slots (compatibility information available at www.fujifilm.co.uk)
DC-IN, Video Out, PC Sync terminal
HS-V2 Ver. 3.0 software included with the camera

Adrian Clarke, Fujifilm’s Director of Consumer Products, said, ”Photographers obsessed with image quality will identify with the technicians who developed the FinePix S3 Pro. The S3 Pro is what DSLR photography is all about – not compromising matters by adding yet more pixels, but instead concentrating on adding pure picture quality.

“Moreover, it offers the professional photographer more versatility than ever before. Anybody whose best work is on conventional Fuji film won’t need to look any further for the digital equivalent.”

Availability & pricing
The FinePix S3 Pro will be available from UK retailers in late October 2004. Pricing will be announced nearer to the date of retail launch.

Dec 15: Digital Printer Test Strips

Outback Photo has a great tutorial on Printer Test Strips which help get the best results when printing you digital images:

'I strongly recommend that you learn to properly profile your monitor and to use profiles for your printer and papers. Profiles will make the process much easier to get good prints; the monitor can be a very good representation of your printer output if you learn to use color management well. But the monitor is not a perfect proofing tool for your final print; it provides the first step for creating a good print, but once you have decent prints, how can you create the final exceptional print. I use test strips to allow me to easily evaluate the effect of minor adjustments to my prints; these allow me to quickly fine tune my prints to that one exceptional print.'

Read more at Workflow Technique #063 @Digital Outback Photo

Dec 15: Pentax DA 40mm Lens

Pentax Press Release
PENTAX Introduces a Lightweight, Ultra Thin 40mm Limited Lens For Digital SLRs

Golden, CO. (December 12, 2004)…PENTAX Imaging Company continues to expand its digital SLR lens family with the announcement of a fourth member − the smc PENTAX DA 40mm F2.8 Limited lens. Designed for exclusive use with PENTAX digital SLR cameras, the unique pancake style standard lens measures a mere .59 inches in length and weighs just 3.17 ounces. Combined with the popular PENTAX *ist DS digital SLR, the PENTAX DA 40mm F2.8 Limited lens will offer the smallest and lightest digital SLR combination available from any manufacturer.

As part of the PENTAX Limited Series, the lens will offer exceptional image quality and construction, high contrast, high resolution, and minimal aberrations. Also compatible with the *ist D digital SLR, this ultra thin lens will offer overall maneuverability during shooting as well as portability and storage convenience. This everyday standard lens will provide outstanding performance in a range of applications including snapshots, portraiture, indoor shooting and landscape photography.

Featuring a sophisticated appearance that incorporates an aluminum lens barrel, hood and cap, the lens offers a perspective similar to the naked eye with its 40mm focal length (equivalent to 61mm in the 35mm format), a large maximum aperture of F2.8, and a minimum focusing distance of 40 centimeters

The PENTAX DA 40mm also features the PENTAX Quick Shift Focus System for instant switching to manual focus operation, a nine blade diaphragm to assure true-to-life reproduction of out-of-focus areas, and filter attachment versatility (a 49mm-size filter on the lens or a 30.5mm-size filter on the lens hood).

The PENTAX DA 40mm F2.8 Limited lens will ship in FEBRUARY 2005.

PENTAX Imaging Company is an innovative leader in the production of digital and film cameras, sport optics, lenses, mobile printers, scanners and internet cameras. For more than 80 years, PENTAX technology has developed durable, reliable products that meet the needs of consumers and businesses. PENTAX Imaging Company is a division of PENTAX of America, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PENTAX Corporation of Japan. PENTAX and smc PENTAX are trademarks of PENTAX Corporation.

Pentax DA 40mm Specifications
- Design and Specifications subject to change without notice.
- Lens mount: PENTAX KAF mount
- Lens construction: 5 elements in 4 groups
- Angle of view: 39° ( when used with *istD, *istDS)
- Aperture control: Automatic
- Number of diaphragm blades: 9
- Minimum aperture: F22
- Metering system: TTL open-aperture metering
- Minimum focusing distance: 15.7 inches
- Filter size: 49mm
- Maximum magnification: 0.13X
- Dimensions (diameter x length): 1.24 x 0.59 inches
- Weight: 3.17 ounces (w/o hood)

Dec 15: Kodak set for gamble on re-entry to Japan

'Japan's digital camera market is a brutal battleground where even some of the country's leading manufacturers are finding it difficult to survive.

In spite of buoyant demand, many Japanese manufacturers are struggling to make profits in the face of double-digit price declines due to the large number of competing suppliers.

So it came as something of a surprise that Kodak, which has never had an easy time in the Japanese market, decided last month to enter the fray.

The US group quietly launched two new cameras and its proprietary digital printing system for the Japanese market.'

Read more at Kodak set for gamble on re-entry to Japan

Dec 15: Microsoft And Fujifilm Work Together on Retail Digital Photofinishing

Microsoft Press Release
Collaboration Offers Windows XP Users Fast, Easy Pickup of Digital Prints At More Than 5,000 Retail Locations, With Some in as Little as One Hour

REDMOND, Wash. - Dec. 14, 2004 - In the midst of the busy holiday photo-processing season, Microsoft Corp. today announced that it has teamed with Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc. to connect millions of digital photographers with retailers for easy and convenient printing of digital pictures. Beginning this week, Fujifilm’s Get The Picture Online service is accessible directly through the Windows® XP Online Print Wizard, MSN® Photos and Microsoft® Digital Image Suite. This will enable consumers to order professionally processed digital prints directly from a Windows XP-based PC for pickup in as little as an hour at participating Fujifilm retail photo centers, including those at Sam’s Club, Ritz Camera Centers Inc. and Wolf Camera Inc.

“As the digital imaging market continues to boom, with worldwide images captured expected to exceed 108 billion, it is increasingly more necessary for leaders in the technology and photography industries to collaborate to create solutions that help consumers view and enjoy their photos in new and compelling ways,” said Ron Glaz, Digital Imaging Program director at IDC. “The ability to order prints directly from the Windows XP desktop for pickup at retail within a matter of hours represents a significant step forward in offering new market opportunities for retailers and greater flexibility and convenience for consumers.”

Get the Picture Online was the first online print ordering system to offer pickup in as little as one hour. It uses Fujifilm’s extensive integrated network - the Frontier Family of Digital Lab Systems, which account for more than 50 percent of all such systems installed nationally - to provide online ordering capabilities for consumers who can elect to pick up their prints at stores or have the pictures mailed to their home. To date more than 5,000 store locations, from mass-market retailers to independent photo labs, are linked to the service, providing a convenient option for high-quality digital picture prints.

The enhanced Online Print Wizard provides an extensible architecture for retailers, such as those on the Fujifilm network, to offer consumers online print-ordering services via Windows XP with no software download required. As a result, users of Windows XP are able to order prints online for postal mail delivery or have them printed and ready for pickup at the retailer of their choice, whether it’s around the corner from home, close to the office or across the country near loved ones.

“Consumers want high-quality prints from their digital pictures for albums, frames, scrapbooks or just for passing among friends and family,” said Howard Locke, product manager for Digital Services at Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc. “Since lifestyles and schedules vary, the flexibility of Get the Picture Online empowers consumers to get real prints of their digital pictures in a manner that is most convenient to them, either as a quick pickup during the next trip to the store or through the mail for those with the busiest of schedules.”

Once a photo or group of photos is selected on the Windows XP desktop, consumers can click on the Order Prints Online icon and elect to pick up their prints at the photo center of their choice - locally or nationally at retailers including Sam’s Club, Ritz Camera and Wolf Camera - or have the printed pictures mailed to their homes. Pickup locations are chosen via a ZIP code-based search. Retailers can offer a choice of wallet-size, 4x6-, 5x7- and 8x10-inch prints or customized options based on their product assortment. As the images are shown on screen, the system will suggest an optimal print size based on resolution. The service also will allow consumers to do basic photo editing - including image cropping, image rotating and red-eye correction - at some participating retailers.

“The proliferation of digital imaging has transformed the photo-processing industry and introduced new opportunities to serve customers online,” said Richard Tranchida, executive vice president of Ritz Camera. “By working with companies like Microsoft and Fujifilm, we are able to extend the benefits of our online ordering service to even more consumers and offer them a solution that’s easy, convenient and economical.”

About Fujifilm
Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc. is a subsidiary of Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd. and delivers technology solutions to meet the imaging and information needs of retailers, consumers, professionals and business customers. As a global leader in digital imaging, Fujifilm pioneered the development of digital medical systems, and today is the leader in digital minilab systems. The company was ranked in the top 10 for U.S. patents granted during the last decade, employs approximately 73,000 people worldwide, and in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004, had global revenues of more than $24 billion. In the United States, Fujifilm is a leader in delivering high-quality, easy-to-use imaging and information solutions in the following categories: Digital Imaging Systems, Recording/Storage Media, Film and Imaging Systems, Motion Picture Film, Graphic Arts and Printing Systems, and Medical Imaging and Diagnostics Systems. Fujifilm is an environmentally friendly, humane enterprise and an exemplary corporate citizen. For more information on Fujifilm products, consumers can call (800) 800-FUJI (800-3854) or access the Fujifilm U.S.A. Web site at http://www.fujifilm.com.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Dec 15: Olympus C-7000 Review - Megapixel

Megapixel reviews the Olympus C-7000 and writes - 'The body of the C-7000 is a totally new design. Though, to anyone familiar with Olympus cameras, the C-7000 contains a number of design cues that are recognizable as originating from previous Olympus models.

The camera is relatively thin and its finishing, a mix of metal and plastic in matching tones, is flawless. On the front a thick rubber piece serves as a grip with, to its right, a transparent red piece that covers the self-timer lamp and and the IR receiver for the remote control.'

UK Readers Buy the “Olympus C-70Z Digital Camera ”
US Readers Buy the “Olympus C7000 Digital Camera”

Read more about the Olympus C-7000/C70

Dec 15: Sony, Samsung to share patents

'Sony Corp. and Samsung Electronics said they had agreed to share patents on basic technology to speed up product development and avoid adding to a growing number of cross-border patent disputes.

The cross-licensing deal allows the Japanese and South Korean electronics giants to tap each other's vast patent portfolios of basic technologies. However, it will exclude key technologies that help differentiate their products, such as those related to Sony's hit PlayStation game consoles.'

Read more at CIOL : News : Sony, Samsung to share patents

Dec 15: 7-Megapixel Camera Reviews

PC Mag has a series of reviews on 7-Megapixel Cameras - 'If you wanted an enthusiast or compact camera with a bit higher resolution than 6 megapixels but didn't want to spend around $1,000 for an 8MP camera, you were out of luck—until the recent release of a slew of 7MP cameras. For just $500 to $700, there is now a wide range of cameras that can produce images of up to 3,072-by-2,304 pixels, suitable for making razor-sharp 11-by-17 prints—even after some cropping. In this batch we also include the Fujifilm Coolpix E550, which uses Fujifilm's own SuperCCD HR sensor, which is rated at 6MP and has a 12MP hardware interpolation mode that brings its images in line with those of the 7MP cameras.'

They then go on to review the Canon Powershot G6, Canon Powershot S70, Casio Exilim Pro EX-P700, Fujifilm FinePix E550, Olympus Camedia C-7000 Zoom, Pentax Optio 750Z, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P150 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V3.

Dec 15: Microsoft and Fujifilm Team to Lower Barriers To Retail Digital Photofinishing

Press Release: Microsoft and Fujifilm Team to Lower Barriers To Retail Digital Photofinishing

Collaboration Offers Windows XP Users Fast, Easy Pickup of Digital Prints At More Than 5,000 Retail Locations, With Some in as Little as One Hour

REDMOND, Wash. - Dec. 14, 2004 - In the midst of the busy holiday photo-processing season, Microsoft Corp. today announced that it has teamed with Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc. to connect millions of digital photographers with retailers for easy and convenient printing of digital pictures. Beginning this week, Fujifilm's Get The Picture Online service is accessible directly through the Windows® XP Online Print Wizard, MSN® Photos and Microsoft® Digital Image Suite. This will enable consumers to order professionally processed digital prints directly from a Windows XP-based PC for pickup in as little as an hour at participating Fujifilm retail photo centers, including those at Sam's Club, Ritz Camera Centers Inc. and Wolf Camera Inc.

“As the digital imaging market continues to boom, with worldwide images captured expected to exceed 108 billion, it is increasingly more necessary for leaders in the technology and photography industries to collaborate to create solutions that help consumers view and enjoy their photos in new and compelling ways,” said Ron Glaz, Digital Imaging Program director at IDC. “The ability to order prints directly from the Windows XP desktop for pickup at retail within a matter of hours represents a significant step forward in offering new market opportunities for retailers and greater flexibility and convenience for consumers.”

Get the Picture Online was the first online print ordering system to offer pickup in as little as one hour. It uses Fujifilm's extensive integrated network - the Frontier Family of Digital Lab Systems, which account for more than 50 percent of all such systems installed nationally - to provide online ordering capabilities for consumers who can elect to pick up their prints at stores or have the pictures mailed to their home. To date more than 5,000 store locations, from mass-market retailers to independent photo labs, are linked to the service, providing a convenient option for high-quality digital picture prints.

The enhanced Online Print Wizard provides an extensible architecture for retailers, such as those on the Fujifilm network, to offer consumers online print-ordering services via Windows XP with no software download required. As a result, users of Windows XP are able to order prints online for postal mail delivery or have them printed and ready for pickup at the retailer of their choice, whether it's around the corner from home, close to the office or across the country near loved ones.

“Consumers want high-quality prints from their digital pictures for albums, frames, scrapbooks or just for passing among friends and family,” said Howard Locke, product manager for Digital Services at Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc. “Since lifestyles and schedules vary, the flexibility of Get the Picture Online empowers consumers to get real prints of their digital pictures in a manner that is most convenient to them, either as a quick pickup during the next trip to the store or through the mail for those with the busiest of schedules.”

Once a photo or group of photos is selected on the Windows XP desktop, consumers can click on the Order Prints Online icon and elect to pick up their prints at the photo center of their choice - locally or nationally at retailers including Sam's Club, Ritz Camera and Wolf Camera - or have the printed pictures mailed to their homes. Pickup locations are chosen via a ZIP code-based search. Retailers can offer a choice of wallet-size, 4x6-, 5x7- and 8x10-inch prints or customized options based on their product assortment. As the images are shown on screen, the system will suggest an optimal print size based on resolution. The service also will allow consumers to do basic photo editing - including image cropping, image rotating and red-eye correction - at some participating retailers.

“The proliferation of digital imaging has transformed the photo-processing industry and introduced new opportunities to serve customers online,” said Richard Tranchida, executive vice president of Ritz Camera. “By working with companies like Microsoft and Fujifilm, we are able to extend the benefits of our online ordering service to even more consumers and offer them a solution that's easy, convenient and economical.”

About Fujifilm
Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc. is a subsidiary of Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd. and delivers technology solutions to meet the imaging and information needs of retailers, consumers, professionals and business customers. As a global leader in digital imaging, Fujifilm pioneered the development of digital medical systems, and today is the leader in digital minilab systems. The company was ranked in the top 10 for U.S. patents granted during the last decade, employs approximately 73,000 people worldwide, and in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004, had global revenues of more than $24 billion. In the United States, Fujifilm is a leader in delivering high-quality, easy-to-use imaging and information solutions in the following categories: Digital Imaging Systems, Recording/Storage Media, Film and Imaging Systems, Motion Picture Film, Graphic Arts and Printing Systems, and Medical Imaging and Diagnostics Systems. Fujifilm is an environmentally friendly, humane enterprise and an exemplary corporate citizen.

For more information on Fujifilm products, consumers can call (800) 800-FUJI (800-3854) or access the Fujifilm U.S.A. Web site at http://www.fujifilm.com.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

###

Microsoft, Windows and MSN are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Dec 15: CVS Celebrates the 12 Days of Christmas with 12 Ways to Make Photos an Easy Part of the Holidays

Press Release - CVS Celebrates the 12 Days of Christmas with 12 Ways to Make Photos an Easy Part of the Holidays

5 Free Digital Prints and New One-Time Use Digital Camera Available for the Holidays

WOONSOCKET, R.I., Dec. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CVS/pharmacy began the countdown to Christmas 2004 with 12 easy ways to include photos in your holiday plans. CVS is America's pharmacy photo innovation leader and was the first pharmacy to introduce the latest wave of new digital photo products and services. With more stores than any pharmacy in the U.S., CVS also offers over 5,300 locations in 36 states and the District of Colombia to help make it easy for customers to capture and treasure holiday photos.

“The holidays are the most popular time of the year for photo taking and photo-related gifts. At CVS, we are counting down the 12 days of Christmas with an exciting full range of photo products and services that make digital and traditional photos an easy part of the holidays,” said Judy Strauss- Sansone, Vice President - Merchandising. “In addition to making photos easy, we are giving our customers something extra with several new photo-related products and promotions,” said Sansone.

Day 1 -- Photos: How do you get your holiday pictures done in time? We make it easy -- CVS stores offer one-hour photo service at over 4,000 locations.

Day 2 -- Digital Photos Online: Is it possible to upload digital photos to the CVS website and pick them up the next day at the nearest CVS store for only 29 cents a print? Certainly! -- Log on to CVS.com to find out how to order digital Express Prints for pick-up at your neighborhood CVS/pharmacy.

Day 3 -- Holiday Photo Cards: Where can you get photo holiday greeting cards this year? At CVS of course -- There is still plenty of time, and if you are too busy to go to our stores, go to CVS.com to find out how to upload photos or order holiday photo greeting cards for pick-up the next day at your local CVS.

Day 4 -- One-Time Use Cameras: Going to a holiday party and want to take pictures but not bring your expensive camera? CVS has the answer -- we offer a wide selection of single use cameras to help you capture holiday memories at home or out on the town.

Day 5 -- Business Photo Accounts: Your office holiday party was a huge success and now you want to share it with everyone at the company, does CVS offer business photo accounts? Yes -- Businesses can save 10% on their photo needs by opening up a business account at their local CVS or set up your account online and upload your prints.

Day 6 -- Digital Cameras: Digital cameras are the hottest gift of the season, are they at CVS? Yes! -- CVS has digital cameras at affordable prices that will make great gifts.

Day 7 -- Picture Frames, Wrapping Paper, etc: What can CVS do to help with giving photo related gifts? Let CVS take care of it -- CVS offers the perfect picture frames for your special photos, along with the wrapping paper, bows, gift tags and all the trimmings to create the perfect present.

Day 8 -- New One-Time Use Digital Cameras: What about stocking stuffers? Need some ideas? CVS has many interesting and affordable stocking stuffers, including the new one-time use digital camera. This remarkable camera can fill the most discerning stocking. Look for December savings that can make this camera yours for just $14.99. It's a great way to experience a digital camera for the first time and features a full color preview screen and image deletion.

Day 9 -- Memory Cards, Film, Batteries: To make sure you capture every moment of holiday magic this year -- preparation is key -- where can you stock up? -- CVS of course -- we have all the memory cards, film, batteries and everything else you need to create holiday memories. And CVS is open on Christmas Eve!

Day 10 -- Digital Technology and Camera Phones: What about the latest digital technology? Where can you get camera phone pictures printed or find a disposable digital camera? CVS was the first pharmacy to offer in-store printing of digital photos from BlueTooth or infrared enabled camera phones.

Day 11 -- Make Prints of Treasured Photos: Can CVS help make copies of an old keepsake photo to share with family and friends? We have the solution -- CVS has easy-to-use in store technology that will help you make additional prints of treasured old photos.

Day 12 -- Free Digital Photos: Can CVS help customers who receive a digital camera for Christmas and want to print their photos the very next day? You bet! -- On December 26th, CVS will offer five free digital prints for every ExtraCare card customer printing digital photos at CVS. Check out the December 26th CVS circular for details and get ready for the easiest holiday photo experience in America ... at your local CVS/pharmacy!

CVS is America's number one retail pharmacy, with over 5,000 retail and specialty pharmacy stores in 36 states and the District of Columbia. With more than 40 years of dynamic growth in the retail pharmacy industry, CVS is committed to being the easiest pharmacy retailer for customers to use. CVS has created innovative approaches to serve the healthcare needs of all customers through its CVS/pharmacy stores, its online pharmacy, CVS.com and its pharmacy benefit management and specialty pharmacy subsidiary, PharmaCare Management Services. General information about CVS is available through the Investor Relations portion of the Company's website, at http://investor.CVS.com

Dec 14: Epson Perfection 4990 Photo Scanner

Epson Press Release
EPSON® delivers cost-effective, high speed photo and multi-format film scanning with the Perfection 4990 Photo

Better image quality, significantly faster scanning speeds and the ability to scan medium and large format film. The Epson Perfection 4990 Photo is bundled with Epson Creativity Suite software, providing an easy to use interface for enhanced image manipulation.

January 2004 – The Perfection 4990 Photo scanner features a high optical density of up to 4.0 Dmax and can distinguish a broad spectrum of subtle colour variations, reproducing a tonal quality previously unmatched in a film scanner of this size and price point.

The Perfection 4990 Photo is aimed at photo enthusiasts and professionals, looking for the best in fast, multi-format film scanning technology. It offers 4800 x 9600 dpi resolution and has several features to facilitate scanning large archives of prints and films. A built-in transparency unit for 35mm film, medium and large format film allows you to scan entire photo contact sheets in one batch. While the integrated LED allows you to track the progress of the film scanning, preventing you from inadvertently interrupting the scanning process before completion.

Priced at RRP £349 (inc vat) , the Epson Perfection 4990 Photo is bundled with Epson’s new Creativity Suite software. This software allows you to manipulate images pre- and post- scan. The scanner also incorporates DIGITAL ICE™ technology that removes dust and scratches from scanned images, enabling you to restore prints and films.

“The Perfection 4990 Photo offers exceptional processing quality for both photos and film. With processing speeds up to 40% times faster than previous models, it is one of the highest performing, most versatile scanning solutions on the market today,” says Richard Baylis, Sales and Marketing Manager, Consumer Products, Epson UK. “We also believe that the medium and large format film support capabilities it offers, will be very attractive to photo enthusiasts and professional photographers.”

Epson Perfection 4990 Photo features summary
- High optical density up to 4.0 dmax
- Unique LED embedded in scanner lid shows film scanning progress and helps to prevent accidental interruption of the scan
- 4800 x 9600dpi for superior scanning results
- Built-in transparency unit for multi-format film scanning
- Over 40% faster scanning than its predecessor*
- Digital Ice™ - for dust and scratch removal
- Bundled with professional scan and imaging software including the new Epson Creativity Suite, Adobe®
- PhotoShop Elements 2.0, Adobe Album Maker 2.0 and Silverfast® AE
- RRP £349 (inc vat)

* the Perfection 4990 Photo is over 40% faster than the Perfection 4870 Photo when scanning 35mm film: 2400 dpi, 3200dpi and 4800dpi

Dec 14: Nikon Coolpix 8400 Review - Imaging Resource

Imaging Resource reviews the Nikon Coolpix 8400 Digital Camera and writes - 'Now that we've had a chance to fully test a final production model, our earlier impressions of the Nikon Coolpix 8400 have been pretty well borne out. Image quality was generally excellent, with loads of resolution, in-camera sharpening that struck a good balance between perceived sharpness and minimal artifacts, good (if somewhat bright) color, and a lens that kept chromatic aberration largely in check yet maintained good sharpness in the corners of the frame. The two standout features of the Nikon 8400 are its fast shutter response (among the best we've seen in a prosumer camera), and its super-wide 24-85mm equivalent zoom lens.'

UK Readers Buy the “Nikon Coolpix 8400 Digital Camera”
US Readers Buy the “Nikon Coolpix 8400 Digital Camera”

Read more about the Nikon Coolpix 8400

Get the Latest Price on the Nikon Coolpix 8400

Dec 14: Pentax Optio S5I Review - Imaging Resource

Imaging Resource reivews the Pentax Optio S5I Digital Camera Review and writes - 'Overall, the Optio S5i is amazingly full-featured for a subcompact model, delivering good (although slightly understated) color and tone in an incredibly tiny package. If you're looking for an ultra-compact camera with a full feature set, the Optio S5i is hard to beat. The camera's 5.0-megapixel CCD produces very high resolution images, and the camera offers a wide range of preset shooting modes and exposure control options to suit a range of user levels. Excellent for travel and as a “take anywhere” camera, the Pentax Optio S5i arguably packs more photographic capability per cubic inch than anything else on the market.'

UK Readers Buy the “Pentax Optio S5i Digital Camera”
US Readers Buy the “Pentax Optio S5i Digital Camera”

Read more about the Pentax Optio S5i

Dec 14: Canon EOS 20D Review - DCRP

DCRP Reviews the Canon EOS-20D and writes - 'I'll be blunt: the Canon EOS-20D is the best reasonably priced digital SLR that I've tested. And by reasonably priced I meant under $2000. There's so much to like about the 20D, I don't know where to start. Photo quality is excellent, with photos having an ultra smooth look to them. Color and exposure were both accurate. Personally I'd crank the sharpness up another notch, but that's just me. Noise levels are very low, even at ISO 1600 -- try that with your fixed-lens camera!'

UK Readers Buy the “Canon EOS 20D”
US Readers Buy the “Canon EOS 20D”

Read more about the Canon EOS 20D

Dec 14: Fujifilm Finepix F450 Wins Fortune and Popular Mechanics Award

Fujifilm Press Release
Fujifilm’s Mini Digital Camera Wins Top Product Awards for Technology Innovation and Design; Fujifilm Finepix F450 Digital Camera Honored by Fortune and Popular Mechanics

VALHALLA, N.Y.—(Business Wire)—Dec. 13, 2004—Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, has been honored with two prestigious awards recognizing its FinePix F450 consumer digital camera. The sleek digital camera was named one of Fortune"Top 25 Best Products of the Year" while Popular Mechanics selected the camera for its annual top gear picks.

Get the Latest Price on the Fujifilm FinePix F450

With its slim and square metal body, the Fujifilm FinePix F450 fits easily into most palms, pockets and small handbags, while packing an imaging punch of 5.2 million pixels and a 2-inch LCD screen. Perfect for parties and special events, this stylish digital camera is now available for approximately $399.

At Fortune, editors and a panel of distinguished experts scoured thousands of new consumer product designs that hit the U.S. market this year to pick its top 25 products for innovation in materials, function, and form. According to Fortune, Fujifilm’s “tiny, square machine has amazing feature set” and “takes great pictures.” Popular Mechanic’s “Wish List ‘05” highlights the year’s 30 best gadgets, wheels, tools and toys. According to the editors, Fujifilm “bridges the gap” between digital cameras that are either high-resolution full-size bricks or low-resolution miniature toys with its ultra compact F450 digital camera.“

About Fujifilm

Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. is a subsidiary of Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. and delivers technology solutions to meet the imaging and information needs of retailers, consumers, professionals and business customers. As a global leader in digital imaging, Fujifilm pioneered the development of digital medical systems, and today is the leader in digital minilab systems. The company was ranked in the top ten for U.S. patents granted during the last decade, employs approximately 73,000 people worldwide and in the year ending March 31, 2004, had global revenues of more than $24 billion.

In the U.S., Fujifilm is a leader in delivering high quality, easy-to-use imaging and information solutions in the following categories: Digital Imaging Systems, Recording/Storage Media, Film and Imaging Systems, Motion Picture Film, Graphic Arts and Printing Systems and Medical Imaging and Diagnostics Systems. Fujifilm is committed to being an environmentally friendly, humane enterprise and an exemplary corporate citizen.

For more information on Fujifilm products, consumers can call 800-800-FUJI or access the Fujifilm USA Web site at http://www.fujifilm.com

Read more about the Fujifilm Finepix F450

Dec 14: Fujifilm FinePix A330 Review - CNET

CNET reviews the Fujifilm FinePix A330 and writes - 'Fujifilm's entry-level FinePix A330 has a basic feature set that won't scare away even the most hesitant digital-photography newcomers. And you can enhance its ease of use with the optional PictureCradle CP-FXA10 dock, which charges an included battery pack and makes connecting to a computer or a TV extremely simple. The FinePix A330 also works as a Webcam for Windows XP users, although you have to supply your own microphone. When it comes to snapshot performance, this 3.2-megapixel camera is slightly faster than its predecessors, but it won't break any speed records. Still, casual snapshot photographers who aren't looking for quickness will likely be pleased with its decent photo quality.'

Read more about the Fujifilm FinePix A330

UK Readers Buy the “Fujifilm Finepix A330 Digital Camera”
US Readers Buy the “FujiFilm FinePix A330 Digital Camera”

Dec 14: Kodak EasyShare DX7590 review - Pocket Lint

Pocket Lint review the Kodak EasyShare DX 7590 and writes - 'For anyone requiring a simple to use camera with room to advance requiring ‘normal’ sized prints, the Kodak EasyShare DX 7590 may just be ideal. It is a cinch to use, the more advanced user will find it offers them plenty of extra photo tools and while I’m not a big fan of EVFs, its 2.2-inch colour screen is a cracker.'

Read more about the Kodak EasyShare DX7590

UK Readers Buy the “Kodak DX7590 & Docking Station EasyShare 6000-SA”
US Readers Buy the “Kodak DX7590 & Kodak EasyShare Dock 6000 Bundle”

Dec 14: Epson Perfection 2580 Review - PC Magazine

PC Magazine reviews the Epson Perfection 2580 and writes - 'Helping make up for the problems is the scanner's color-restore feature, which worked well on our faded test photo. (Dust and grain removal features are for film only.) The 2580 also scored well on our OCR tests, reading Times New Roman fonts at sizes as small as 8 points and Arial fonts as small as 6 points, without a mistake. We only wish it had an ADF to take full advantage of the OCR accuracy. Count this as a reasonable choice for an all-around scanner, despite some limitations.'

Read more about the Epson Perfection 2580 Scanner

UK Readers Buy the Epson Perfection 2580 Scanner
US Readers Buy the Epson Perfection 2580 Scanner

Dec 14: Nikon Coolpix 5200 Review - Digital Camera Info

Digital Camera Info reviews the Nikon Coolpix 5200 Digital Camera and writes - 'The Nikon Coolpix 5200 is most likely to appeal to those consumers searching for a point-and-shoot camera with a small compact size and style, few external controls, and simple menus to allow and expedite menu changes. The color menus are attractive and simple to navigate with the four-way controller, and the 1.5 inch LCD is a bit small, however, the overall small size of the camera makes this perhaps inevitable. The 5.1 MP CCD is large enough to produce high quality photographs, and when paired with a movie mode frame rate of 30 fps, this camera becomes an impressive and attractive choice for those users not concerned with spending more to look better. '

UK Readers Buy the Nikon Coolpix 5200
US Readers Buy the Nikon Coolpix 5200

Read more about the Nikon Coolpix 5200

Dec 14: Photoshop Levels - Tutorial and Tips

EarthBound Light has a good tutorial on 'Levels' in Photoshop:'So, you're trying to learn how to optimize your photos in Photoshop. Nothing radical, of course. Basically just the digital equivalent of what has been done in the traditional darkroom for years. With any number of ways to do even simple things, Photoshop can seem a bit overwhelming at first though. We looked last week at Brightness and Contrast and discovered why they really don't work that well. Now it's time to follow though on my promise to explain why Levels is a much better alternative.

In the full version of Photoshop, you can find Levels under Image >> Adjustments >> Levels. In Photoshop Elements, it's over at Enhance >> Adjust Lighting >> Levels. Both work the same way. The Levels dialog has many options leading to a number of capabilities that I'll delve into in future articles. This week though, just the basics. Shown below are both versions of Levels with Photoshop CS on left and Elements 3.0 on the right....'

Dec 13: Casio QV-R62

The Casio QV-R62 is a 6.0 megapixel digital camera with a 3x Optical Zoom lens and 2 inch LCD. It is basically a twin of the previously releases QV-R61.

Get the Latest Price on the Casio QV-R62

Casio QV-R62 Reviews

Steve's Digicams reviews the Casio QV-R62 and writes - 'With an MSRP of only $299, the Casio QV-R62 offers an awesome value. Normally cameras in this price range fall into the class of entry-level consumer digicams, but its speed, size, features and photo quality are comparable to higher-end cameras costing much more. This is a camera that can be used by the entire family, while still offering usefulness for the more advanced user with its wide variety of image adjustments.'

CNET Reviews has a review of the Casio QV-R62 and writes - 'Taking the resolution lead in Casio's QV series, the 6-megapixel QV-R62 comes outfitted with newbie-friendly features such as Casio's signature Best Shot scene modes and a pop-up help system. This nicely priced camera is easy to use and a good choice for snapshooters who want a little more from their camera than just the basic point-and-shoot. The Casio QV-R62 lags behind the competition in some ways--its Movie mode doesn't record sound and its shot-to-shot time isn't great, but if you're more likely to be shooting a tree than a car race, this won't be a problem.'

Buy the “Casio QVR62 6MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom”

Casio QV-R62 Press Release

Winter photo fun: The new QV-R62 from CASIO with 6.0 megapixel power

Norderstedt, January 2005 - Skiing, cosy evenings at the fireplace and eating baked apples; all these winter treats offer wonderful picture motifs for every hobby photographer. That's where the new digital camera QV-R62 from CASIO comes in: with 6.0 megapixels and 3x optical zoom, it brings concentrated power for photos full of life. Now all that's left to do is to press the shutter at the right moment and you won't miss any situation. Thanks to the Direct On function, the digital camera is ready for use extremely quickly1 and the minimal shutter release time lag of approx. 0.01 seconds2 makes sure that you won't miss a single tobogganist when you're shooting the winter activities. The result is photos in a fantastic quality that look great on the 2-inch TFT colour display.

With the QV-R62 you'll be able to take single pictures and high-speed consecutive exposure in no time at all. Fast and variable focusing is child's play with the small compact camera as well. In addition to the Auto Focus, the camera is also equipped with the Auto Macro function, where the camera automatically adjusts itself to close-up pictures and switches back into the normal photo mode where required. The sparkling frost pattern on the window can be photographed just as successfully as the winter-white landscape. Namely, the BESTSHOT function with its 23 pre-recorded scenes offers the best scenario for the respective situation. Pictures that turn out too dark are mostly not lost, because the Flash Assist function brightens them up in retrospect as needed. And the Print Size Guide explains which resolution results in which picture format. The practical Icon Help function rounds off the user-friendliness of the digital lightweight3 by explaining the individual camera settings. Movie4, self-timer, Macro, Alarm function and automatic calender with world time complete the functional diversity.

The QV-R62 is operated with commercially available AA batteries. The compact digital camera with the measurements 88.3 mm x 60.4 mm x 33.4 mm has the typical CASIO integrated 9.7 MB internal memory, which is expandable through any kind of SD/MMC memory cards. The multi-talent is available on the market from January 2005. The QV-R62 comes complete with a carrier strap, USB cable as well as extensive software on CD-ROM. The camera bags QVR-CASE 1, QVR-CASE 2 and the mains adapter AC-C30 are available as extras.

1 approx. 1 second, LCD and flash off
2 after focusing, LCD and flash off
3 approx. 168 g without batteries and memory card
4 without sound

Get the Latest Price on the Casio QV-R62

Dec 13: Camera phones to hit digital camera market

Much has been written on the topic of camera phones and the impact that they are having upon the digital camera market - debate is fierce but increasingly article like the following are appearing in newspapers claiming that the camera phone will continue to grow in popularity...

INSIDE JoongAng Daily writes - 'With the appearance of cellphones with digital cameras, the growth of the world digital camera market will likely cool down, said the Korea International Trade Association yesterday. The trade organization said the global digital camera market, which has increased 40 percent this year with sales of 68.5 million units, will expect a growth rate of 22 percent with sales of 84.1 million units in 2005. The organization said sales of digital camera in 2006 will likely reach 84.7 million units in 2006.'

Dec 13: Olympus C-470 Review - Cameras.co.uk

Cameras.co.uk Reviews the Olympus C-470 (also known as the Olympus D-590) and writes - 'The C-470 is a very standard digital camera. Other than the macro shot I was happy with all the pictures I took with it, both indoors and out. For me the strength of the camera is its ease of use. In fact it is hard to find a digital camera that is much easier to use than this one. It offers good value for money and if you are looking for a no fuss camera then this is one to consider.'

Read more about the Olympus C-470

UK Readers Buy the “Olympus C-470Z Digital Camera”
US Readers Buy the “Olympus Stylus D 590 Digital Camera”

Dec 13: Canon EOS 20D Review - Creative Pro

Creative Pro reviews the Canon EOS 20D and writes - 'The fact that the 20D is not “revolutionary” should not be held against it. The market that Canon created -- relatively inexpensive, high-quality digital SLRs with interchangeable lenses -- has matured a lot over the last two years. Canon's own entries, along with those of Nikon, Fuji, and Pentax, simply make it harder to take a huge leap from one model to another.'

Read more reviews and information about the Canon EOS SD20

UK Readers Buy the “Canon Eos 20D Digital SLR Lens Kit [8.2MP, up to 5fps , EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 DC lens]” US Readers Buy the “Canon EOS 20D 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens”

Dec 13: HP Photosmart M307 Review - DigiCamReview.co.uk

DigiCamReview reviews the HP Photosmart M307 and writes - 'Image Quality: This is where the camera is let down - the images have quite dull colour and lack contrast. Images also suffer from quite high noise levels even on sunny days. Detail can be quite good, with fairly sharp images assuming lighting conditions are good. There seems to be a higher amount of purple fringing than normal. There is a fairly poor range of image sizes and compression options. The macro mode is average. The flash didn't cause problems when the subject was close. Auto white balance and metering seemed to be okay. The movie mode is better than average, at 30fps with sound. When inside, the camera does an okay job of focusing, the flash is fairly decent, but images do suffer from noise, and low contrast.'

Read more about the HP Photosmart M307

UK Readers Buy the “HP Photosmart M307 Digital Camera”
US Readers Buy the “HP Photosmart M307 Digital Camera”

Or buy the “HP Photosmart M307 Digital Camera with a Photosmart 145 Photo Printer”

Dec 13: Nikon Coolpix 8400 Review - Steve's Digicams

Steve's Digicams reviews the Nikon Coolpix 8400 and writes - 'The Nikon Coolpix 8400 enters the prosumer digicam market with a unique combination of 8-megapixel resolution, super wide angle zoom and excellent image quality. Its rich set of exposure controls will please the advanced shooter, while its easy to use automatic and scene modes will help even the neophyte capture great images. The 8400 is at its best shooting outdoor scenics. Its indoor results are also terrific if there is sufficient available light for autofocus, but in dim lighting the limited range of the AF-assist lamp was a disappointment.'

Read more about the Nikon Coolpix 8400

UK Readers Buy the “Nikon Coolpix 8400 Digital Camera”
US Readers Buy the “Nikon Coolpix 8400 Digital Camera”

Dec 11: Canon PowerShot S70 Review - CNET Reviews

CNET reviews the Canon PowerShot S70 and writes - 'Though it fails to garner the same across-the-board high marks as its predecessors, the Canon PowerShot S70 nevertheless acquits itself very well as an enthusiast's compact. A 7-megapixel camera with a 3.6X zoom lens, the S70's first-rate photos and flexible feature set appeal now as much as they ever did. Only poor battery life and average performance hold it back from attaining better grades.'

Read more about the Canon PowerShot S70 or read our reviews of the Canon Powershot S70

Dec 11: Film Camera Produces 100 Tims More Data Than Digital

'Clifford Ross has invented a camera capable of producing negatives containing 100 times as much data as the average professional digital camera....

'“We're good at making big computers,” said Carl Diegert, lead computational and imaging scientist at Sandia. But, Diegert said, when scientists look at pictures of the space shuttle, for example, they may not see things as clearly as they might. “We're trying to find how the human emotional part comes into play in finding a crack in the space shuttle. Clifford has figured out how to catch all this information at a moment in time.”'

Read more at Tom Swift's new camera, ready for space and spies | CNET News.com found via PhotographyBLOG

Dec 10: Pentax Optio 750Z Review - DCRP

DCRP reviews the Pentax Optio 750Z and writes - 'While it's not perfect, I do like the Pentax Optio 750Z quite a bit, and it earns my recommendation. It has a stylish, fairly-compact body with a handy flip-out LCD display. Build quality is very good for the most part, save for the cover over the battery/memory card compartment. Despite its size, the Optio packs a 5X zoom lens -- great for telephoto lovers who don't want to carry around a bulky ultra zoom camera. Photo quality is very good, though a bit noisier than the other 7MP cameras I've tested. Images were well-exposed, colorful, and very sharp, all with a minimum of purple fringing. You may encounter some blurry corners or vignetting in flash shots while using the 750Z.'

UK Readers Buy the “Pentax Optio 750z Digital Camera”
US Readers Buy the “Pentax Optio 750Z Digital Camera”

Read more about the Pentax Optio 750z

Dec 10: Fujifilm FinePix E550 Review - AnandTech

AnandTech reviews the Fujifilm FinePix E550 and writes - 'All in all, we really enjoyed our time with the E550. The menu layout is very straightforward and user-friendly. The fast startup time cannot be praised enough. It makes the whole process that much more enjoyable when you can just pick up the camera and shoot without waiting. Given that the E550 has such a wide range of exposure modes, it makes it a good camera for a beginner or an advanced user. Also, having the option to shoot in RAW mode offers unlimited options for post-processing endeavors. Overall, the features and performance offered by the Fujifilm FinePix E550 are a pleasure to see in a reasonably-priced consumer camera.'

UK Readers Buy the “Fujifilm Finepix E550 Digital Camera”
US Readers Buy the “Fujifilm Finepix E550 Digital Camera”

Read more about the Fujifilm Finepix E550

Dec 10: Canon PowerShot SD200 Review - Imaging Resource

Imaging Resource reviews the Canon PowerShot SD200 and writes - 'Good image quality and user-friendly design has become synonymous with the ELPH name, and is the reason why the line is so popular with a wide range of consumers. Extending the brand name's excellent reputation in the film world, members of the digital ELPH series have always impressed me with their quality and versatility. The SD200 is the 3-megapixel “little brother” to the 4-megapixel Canon SD300 that we reviewed before it. The slimmer design of these two models relative to that of earlier digital ELPHs is a definite plus, and their range of features gives them an edge over many other subcompact point-and-shoot digicams in the marketplace. Although actual exposure control remains automatic, the ability to adjust ISO, White Balance, and access longer shutter times significantly increases the camera's capabilities. Thanks to its high-speed DIGIC-II processing chip, it's also very responsive for a subcompact digicam, and its movie capability goes far beyond what I'm accustomed to seeing from subcompact digicam models.'

Buy the “Canon Powershot SD200 Digital Camera”

Read more about the Canon Powershot SD200

Get the Latest Price on the Canon Powershot SD200

Dec 10: Nokia Acquires Leica Camera

Now before everyone starts jumping around - the header of this post isn't fact - rather its a something that is being pondered over at SymbianMan's Journal:

'what would happen if a mobile phone manufacturer - Nokia, say - were to acquire Leica? In my view such a development would signal that Nokia takes photography seriously - and that its imaging phones are intended to be used as real photographic tools.

Imagine the Leica name on the lens of every Nokia cameraphone. Want a toy? Buy some other brand. But if you want a real camera, built into your phone, your only choice is Nokia. That would be the message....'

Read more at TheFeature :: It's All About The Mobile Internet

Dec 10: Fujifilm FinePix E550 Review - CNET

CNET reviews the Fujifilm FinePix E550 and writes - 'What are the most important qualities in a compact digital camera? If your answer is a high pixel count, a large LCD screen, and lightning-fast response, you're a good candidate for the Fujifilm FinePix E550. With its 6-megapixel sensor; big, 2-inch display; and 4X optical zoom, the E550 comes well equipped for both novices and intermediate users. Photo buffs will enjoy the relatively low-noise ISO 800 images and the generous assortment of manual settings. And just about anyone will be impressed by its fast performance. Best of all, the E550 serves up this unusual mix of features and capabilities for a competitive price.'

Read more reviews and information about the Fujifilm Finepix E550

UK Readers Buy the “Fujifilm Finepix E550 Digital Camera”

US Readers Buy the “Fujifilm Finepix E550 Digital Camera”

Dec 10: Nikon Coolpix 8800 Review - Pocket Lint

Pocket Lint reviews the Nikon Coolpix 8800 reviews and writes - 'Overall the 8800 has a lot more plus points than minuses. The huge zoom and additional lenses makes it ideal for the serious photographer who still wants the easy of a more compact frame. The functions are generally easy to use although some diligence and instruction scrutiny will be needed to get all the finer nuisances down on pat. The sub £650 price tag will also go a long way towards to securing it as one of the most attractive camera this Christmas, even if it won’t quite fit in your stocking.'

US Readers Buy the “Nikon Coolpix 8800 8MP Digital Camera”
UK Readers Buy the “Nikon Coolpix 8800 Digital Camera”

Read more about the Nikon Coolpix 8800

Dec 10: Epson P-2000 multimedia storage album review - DP Now

DP Now reviews the Epson P-2000 multimedia storage album and writes - 'While the older Epson P-1000 shared the same remarkable Photo Fine display, its overall design was flawed and it was far too expensive. The new P-2000 has fixed practically all of the P-1000’s flaws and although it’s a bit bulkier, it’s more affordable and much more useful. There isn’t anything else to touch it at the moment.'

Read more about the Epson P-2000 Multimedia Storage Album UK Readers Buy the “Epson P-2000 Multimedia Storage Viewer” US Readers Buy the “Epson P-2000 Multimedia Storage Viewer”

Dec 10: Panasonic Introduces 3-Megapixel Camera Module for the Mobile Terminal Market

Panasonic Press Release
Industry's thinnest 8.63 mm module incorporates auto-focus and image-stabilizer

Tokyo, Japan - Panasonic SC Device Solutions Co., Ltd. (PSCDS), a subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., today announced the development of a 3-megapixel camera module designed for mobile phones. With the latest v Maicovicon™ image sensor at the core, the module, GP-KM3500V, incorporates auto-focusing and image-stabilizing capabilities in the industry's thinnest 8.63mm package. The GP-KM3500V makes camera phones thinner while ensuring superb picture quality.

“Conventional 3-megapixel Charge Coupled Device (CCD) and CMOS image sensors are not small enough to design compact camera modules, resulting in bulky mobile phones. This new camera module successfully combines quality imaging with compact design by taking full advantage of the new 3-megapixel v Maicovicon™ that features the industry's smallest 2.2-micron pixel size. Advanced mounting and image processing technologies, as well as the ultra-mini focus actuator and thinner lenses, also contributed to reducing the size,” said Mr. Satoru Masuda, Director of Engineering, PSCDS.

“This tiny package includes automatic focus in the range of approximately 8 cm to infinity and an image stabilizer for motion image recording. This makes taking quality picture very easy,” he added.

In order to achieve the compact camera module, PSCDS integrated the sensor, an imaging digital signal processor (DSP), and the lens unit with an infra-red (IR) filter, in a three-dimensional electronic circuit board using Molded Interconnect Device (MID) technology. This integration allows high quality pictures with reduced ghosts and flares in the industry's thinnest camera module.

The high-resolution DSP was specifically designed for camera phones to optimize the performance of the new 3-megapixel image sensor. The chip delivers clear, vivid still pictures as well as corrects blurry images caused by camera-shake. The image stabilizer functions when taking video at a full rate of 30 frames per second at VGA resolution. The chip also controls the mechanical shutter and strobe. It is the result of Panasonic's expertise and experience in imaging technology.

Along with the 3-megapixel (1/3.2-inch optical format) module, Panasonic announced two new imaging modules: the 2-megapixel (1/3.2-inch optical format) camera module with auto-focus and the 1.3-megapixel (1/4-inch optical format) camera module with built-in macro zooming function.

The company plans to start volume production of the 3-megapixel and 2-megapixel modules in March 2005 and 1.3-megapixel module in January 2005.

Including current applications, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. owns 12 Japanese and nine overseas patents related to the camera modules.

PSCDS specializes in design, development, manufacture and sales of modular components related to audio, video and identification systems.

Dec 9: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX7 Review - DP Review

DP Review reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX7 and writes - 'It is a tribute to Panasonic's designers that they managed to squeeze as much as they did into the FX7's diminutive body, and there's no denying it is the kind of camera that simply begs to be taken everywhere you go. The screen is fantastic (though the resolution isn't high enough to really take advantage of the extra size), it's fast, fun to use and capable of surprisingly good results. The Leica lens is certainly no slouch in the resolution stakes, exposure is - though by no means perfect - as good as any other camera in this class, and the auto white balance very good indeed.'

Buy the “Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX7S 5MP Digital Camera”

Read more about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX7

Dec 9: Konica Minolta Dimage X50 Review - CNET

CNET reviews the Konica Minolta Dimage X50 and writes - 'Konica Minolta's ever-fashionable X series climbs the resolution ladder with the addition of the 5-megapixel Dimage X50 to its stable of small and swift ultracompacts. And like its siblings, the X50 is a great take-everywhere companion.'

UK Readers Buy the “Konica Minolta Dimage X50 Digital Camera”
US Readers Buy the “Konica Minolta Dimage X50 Digital Camera”

Read more about the Konica Minolta Dimage X50

Dec 9: Fujifilm FinePix S5100 Review - Digital Camera Info

Digital Camera Info reviews the Fujifilm FinePix S5100 Digital Camera and writes - 'The Fujifilm FinePix S5100 is a worthy compliment to the S5000, adding more effective megapixels to its conventional 1/2.7-inch CCD. The 4.23 total and 4 effective megapixels can create great pictures up to 11 x 17 inches, which is larger than what the average shooter will print. The SLR-shaped FinePix S5100 has a 37-370mm 10x optical zoom lens. The best aspect about this camera is its versatility; with plenty of automatic and manual functions, beginning users can advance on the S5100. The S5100 has a professional façade. Formed in a lightweight medium-sized black body, the camera aims to bridge the gap between the novice point-and-shoot camera and oversized SLRs.'

Buy the “Fujifilm Finepix S5100 Digital Camera”

Read more about the Fujifilm FinePix S5100 Digital Camera

Dec 8: Jessops is a picture of health with strong sales

'JESSOPS, the UK’s biggest chain of specialist photographic stores, today said “strong” demand for digital cameras had fuelled a double-digit rise in annual sales.

The firm, which was releasing its first set of results since floating on the London Stock Exchange last month, also reaffirmed its intention to open around 20 new stores per year, taking its estate to 450 outlets across the UK and Ireland.

Jessops was set up in Leicester in 1935 and operated as a family business until 1996, when it was acquired in a management buy-out. These days it operates 268 stores nationally, including two in Edinburgh, and employs some 2800 staff.

Today’s figures revealed an 11 per cent rise in full-year sales to £319 million, including like-for-like growth of 6.1 per cent.'

Read more at Jessops is a picture of health with strong sales

Dec 8: Konica Minolta Dimage X31 Review - CNET

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.' Read more about the Konica Minolta Dimage X31 Digital Camera UK Readers Purchase the “Konica Minolta Dimage X31 Digital Camera” US Readers Purchase the “Konica Minolta Dimage X31 Digital Camera”

Dec 8: Olympus E-300 Test Drive - PC World

PC World has a Test Drive of New Olympus E-300 Digital SLR Camera (EVOLT E300) and writes - 'This is one of the most interesting single-lens-reflex cameras to come out in a long time. It doesn’t look like an SLR because it’s missing the familiar penta-prism hump on top of the camera. It gives the E-300 significantly less height than other digital SLRs, which makes it easier to pack away.'

Compare prices on the Olympus Evolt E-300 and get the latest Price on the the E-300 at Amazon

Read more information on the Olympus E-300 Digital Camera

Dec 8: Remote Papua New Guinean Tribe to get Digital Cameras

I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry about this one - it seems an remote tribe in Papua New Guinea are about to get digital cameras and a photo printer! Sounds a little like colonial missionaries imposing jackets, ties and english upon natives in the Congo a few years back to me....

'The isolated Huli Wigmen of Papua New Guinea don't know it yet, but they are about to land in the digital world.

Or is the digital world about to land on them?

Either way, it's coming by way of an expedition with Silicon Valley ties that will soon arrive in their village.

The excursion is the brainchild of Richard Bangs, a Seattle adventurer and travel promoter, who persuaded Hewlett-Packard to provide digital cameras and a printer for the trip.

And so, HW, meet HP.

No, Bangs won't ask the Huli to invent. Rather, he'll ask them to take pictures of what they consider to be beautiful. His crew will do the same. The work will be posted on MSNBC.com along with a travelogue.

There is some lofty talk here. HP and Bangs say the seven-member expedition will promote understanding between cultures. It will make the world smaller.

HP says the expedition could lead to economic opportunities for the Huli. It's one way the company is bridging the gap between high-tech and no-tech cultures.

All that and just in time for Christmas, too....'

Read more at Digital world set to invade no-tech culture

Dec 7: Pretec i-Disk II 8GB

PRETEC Press Release

PRETEC i-Disk II 8GB, The Highest Capacity USB Flash Drive in the World

FREMONT, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Dec. 7, 2004 Pretec Electronics Corp., the 2nd company in the world offering CompactFlash (CF) memory card since 1995, announced the world's highest capacity and high speed USB flash drive supporting dual channel data transmission, which can reach the highest average transfer rate up to 120X.

Equipped with hi-speed transmission of dual channel technology, PRETEC i-Disk II 8GB can process files transfer concurrently and bring you the extremely high speed in read & write up to 16MB/sec and 12MB/sec. With its design-in functions of data encryption, compression and write protection, users can fully leverage the largest memory space of PRETEC i-Disk II 8GB under a data secured environment. Light weight, compact, and bundled with the FlashMail, MobileLock, SecretZip software, PRETEC i-Disk II 8GB is a perfect storage solution for active mobile users traveling around the world.

Combining the features of the world's largest capacity, streamline modeling, high reliable transmission speed, and full data protection, PRETEC i-Disk II 8GB is the best storage solution to fit USB devices of PC, Notebook, and i-Mac. It currently provides memory range from 128MB up to 4GB for accessing the mass data, imaging pictures, music files. Also connecting with Bluetooth and WLAN technology in the future, providing more convenient, diversified storage applications, PRETEC i-Disk II 8GB USB flash drive is sampling now, with mass production scheduled by next month.

About Pretec
Pretec(TM) Electronics Corp. (http://www.pretec.com) offers a complete spectrum of small form factor memory cards and card readers such as ATA/CF card, IDE & Mini-IDE Flash Drive (MIDE(TM)), SmartMedia(TM), MultiMedia Card(TM), and SD Card for the digital imaging, mobile computing, and Military/Industrial Control markets; and is the creator of Innovative CompactI/O(TM) cards for PocketPC(TM), digital cameras and many IA devices. Pretec has consistently demonstrated the highest capacity CF cards in the world; such as 80MB, 128MB, 160MB, 320MB, 640MB, 1.5GB, 2GB, 3GB, and 6GB CF card at various locations around the world for the past six years.

-- Note: MIDE(TM), CompactI/O(TM), CompactModem(TM), and CompactLAN(TM) are trademarks of Pretec Electronics Corporation. PocketPC(TM) is trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned herein are recognized as the property of their respective holders.'

Dec 7: Pentax Optio X Review - Steve's Digicams

Steve's Digicams reviews the Pentax Optio X Digital Camera and writes - 'the Pentax Optio X is a “cool” little camera. It may not be the fastest camera on the market, but its versatile swiveling LCD and good image quality make up for it. With 5-megapixels, there's plenty of resolution to make photo-quality 8x10-inch or larger prints. With a street price of under $400, the Optio X offers a good overall value.'

US Readers Buy the Pentax Optio X Digital Camera
UK Readers Buy the Pentax Optio X Digital Camera

Read more about the Pentax Optio X

Dec 7: Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-L1 Review - Steve's Digicams

Steve's Digicams reviews the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-L1 and writes - 'the Sony Cyber-shot L1 is a definite winner. It will make a great choice for anyone who wants an affordable “pocket-rocket” that captures pleasing images. With 4- megapixels, you can create photo-quality 8x10-inch or larger prints. Retailing for about $300, the L1 offers an excellent value and will make a perfect addition to your holiday gift list.'

US Readers Buy the “Sony Cybershot DSC-L1”
UK Readers Buy the “Sony Cybershot DSC-L1”

Read more about the Sony Cybershot DSC-L1

Dec 7: Canon PowerShot A95 Review - CNET

CNET review the Canon PowerShot A95 and writes - 'Canon's 5-megapixel PowerShot A95 steps up as the capable successor to the highly popular A80. As the A series' momentary flagship model, the A95 offers simplicity for entry-level photographers, a versatile feature set for more-experienced shooters, and excellent image quality for both.'

Read more about the Canon Powershot A95

Get the Latest Price on the Canon Powershot A95

Dec 7: Nikon Coolpix 8800 Review - Steves Digicams

Steve's Digicams reviews the Nikon Coolpix 8800 and writes - 'The Coolpix 8800's combination of image quality, resolution, zoom range and Vibration Reduction are unmatched at the time of this review (December 2004). With an MSRP of about $1,000, the Coolpix 8800 competes with consumer-class dSLR's like the D70 and Canon Digital Rebel. If it's digicam features you crave, the family-friendly 8800 is your answer; you'll not find a dSLR that captures smooth VGA-sized 30fps movies, built-in macro capability, Best Shot Selector, or flexible vari-angle LCD viewfinder. On the other hand if you need the versatility of interchangeable lenses, shooting performance, optical TTL viewfinder and superior image quality (especially at higher ISOs) then you'll want a digital SLR.'

UK Readers Buy the “Nikon Coolpix 8800 Digital Camera”
US Readers Buy the “Nikon Coolpix 8800 Digital Camera”

Read more about the Nikon Coolpix 8800

Dec 7: Ricoh Caplio R1 Review - Pocket Lint

Pocket Lint reviews the Ricoh Caplio R1 and writes:

- 'The R1 is versatile indeed; it is sturdily built, attractive and offers great wide-angle snapping options all at an attractive price. Niggles I had with the lens cover meant it was not totally magic. That aside, the R1 takes superb pictures let down at the last by the softness at the edges.'

Dec 7: Get the Most from Your Digital Camera - Book Review - DP Now

DP Now 'Reviews 'Get the Most from Your Digital Camera' and writes:

'There is no doubt that Get the Most from Your Digital Camera is a book that its target audience will find informative and useful. Besides the main prose, there are hints and tips, plus jargon busters to help you along and it's easy to read. On this basis alone, I can happily recommend Get the Most from Your Digital Camera. But with a minimum of effort, the book could be significantly better.

Nit-picking aside, in answer to the final question asked of all books, is Get the Most from Your Digital Camera worth buying? - the honest answer is, yes.'

US Readers Buy the “Get The Most From Your Digital Camera” (Simon Joinson)
UK Readers Buy the “Get The Most from Your Digital Camera” (Simon Joinson)

Dec 7: Umax Powerlook 270(2) Film Scanner

Umax America Press Release

PowerLook 270(2) is latest UMAX product to offer advanced features including auto-loading, auto-focusing technologies and USB 2.0 connectivity

DALLAS, TX., December 6, 2004 -- UMAX Technologies, Inc. today announced availability of its new PowerLook 270(2) film scanner. The PowerLook 270(2) is targeted towards the professional and everyday film photographers, offering an impressive optical resolution of 2700 dpi with a maximum optical density of 3.4 Dmax. The scanner is the first to feature UMAX's unique zero-reflection optical design to preserve image definition and allow light to pass straight through the tri-liner color CCD without reflection. The PowerLook 270(2) is available today with an MSRP of $299.

The PowerLook 270² simplifies the film scanning process with its auto-loading mechanism and auto-focusing technology, enabling users to preview multiple frames with just one click of the mouse. The film scanner is compatible with a wide range of black and white and color film formats, including 35mm filmstrip and 35mm-mounted slides. It also features an optimized preset scan setting to support twenty popular film standards currently on the market.

The PowerLook 270² includes full versions of LaserSoft Imaging's SilverFast Ai 6.0 and Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0. SilverFast Ai sets a higher standard for ease-of-use using an intuitive interface while maintaining a level of professional control. SilverFast features real-time correction, SF SRDÒ dust and scratch removal, professional auto sharpening, simple selective color correction, SF ACRÒ adaptive color restoration and more.

For a limited time, PowerLook 270² customers can also choose to upgrade their bundles from Adobe Elements 2.0 to the professional, world-standard Photoshop CS, a $649 value for just $299.

“The SilverFast and Adobe software offers a completely easy-to-use, high-end imaging software solution for both professional and consumer users, right out of the box,” said Christabel Chen, vice president of sales and marketing for UMAX Technologies, Inc. “With the combination of automated film and slide scanning, high resolution image acquisition and an incredible line-up of software, users can create an impressive set of professional-quality digital images. The professional and everyday uses are endless assisting in advertising, design, print, editorial, and even photo sharing and scrap booking applications.”

System Requirements for SilverFast Ai 6.0: Windows 98se, Me, 2000, or XP,
Mac 10.1x to 10.3x

Customer Service and Support
Customers may call the UMAX technical support center at (214) 739-1915, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (CST). Customers can also contact UMAX for technical support via email at support@umaxcare.com

About UMAX Technologies, Inc.
UMAX Technologies, Inc. is a technology leader in the design and distribution of a full line of imaging products. The company maintains its leadership position in the imaging market with a broad line of desktop scanners and digital cameras. UMAX is located at 10460 Brockwood Drive, Dallas, Texas, 75238 and is on the Web at: http://www.umax.com.

Dec 7: Canon EOS 20D Firmware Update (version 1.1.0)

Canon have just released a new firmware version for the EOS 20D. It has the following updates in it:

- Three new languages (Russian, Korean, and Traditional Chinese) have been added to the camera menus.
- The phenomenon of horizontal line noise appearing in images taken at high ISO settings while using the internal flash has been fixed.

Download it at EOS 20D Firmware-E

Dec 7: Most Popular Digital Cameras on DPB

For a more up to date list check out Popular Digital Cameras and Gear at Digital Photography School.

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas and we've noticed a remarkable upturn in the number of visitors to Digital Photography Blog over the past month. It seems that Digital Cameras are among the most popular gifts this Christmas.

As a result we thought we'd compile a list of the 10 most searched for Digital Cameras on this site over the past couple of weeks. Here they are:

- Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ20
- Konica Minolta Dimage A200
- Nikon Coolpix 8800
- Sony DSC-P41
- Samsung Digimax 401
- Nikon D70
- Olympus mju Digital 500
- Olympus c310 Zoom
- Canon Digital Rebel EOS 300D
- Sony Cybershot DSC-M1

Dec 7: Kodak EasyShare CX7330 Review - Digicam Review

Digicam Review reviews the Kodak EasyShare CX7330 and writes - 'The design is okay, the size is okay, the camera is quite compact, almost stylish and pocketable. The 1.6“ screen updates smoothly and has accurate colour. The camera is very easy to use, the menu systems being easy to use although not as intuitive as expected. They are a bit basic in the amount of options and features available. The 3x optical zoom lens seems to be very good. Camera handling, and button layout are good. The camera speed is good in use and has a quick zoom, shot to shot time is good, with shutter release is very quick after pre-focus, although the camera has an average switch on time.'

UK Readers Buy the Kodak EasyShare CX7330
US Readers Buy the Kodak EasyShare CX7330

Read more about the Kodak EasyShare CX7330

Dec 7: Digital Camera Special Deals

Searching for a Digital Camera to give to your loved one this Christmas? We've assembled the following digital cameras that would make great gifts for that special someone.

Products have been assembled from a variety of UK online retailers that we have an affiliate relationship with.

For more information on individual products use our search feature in the sidebar to search for reviews of cameras within this site.

We also recommend and are affiliated with Amazon UK and US - which can be accessed via the following buttons. Happy Shopping!

Dec 7: SanDisk Photo Album Review - Forbes

Forbes.com has a review of the SanDisk Photo Album and writes - 'I've been playing with SanDisk Photo Album this week, and I think it and similar products--which display digital pictures and video clips on the TV set directly from the camera's memory card--are a fun way to enjoy party pictures right away.'

Read more at Forbes.com: Digital Photos Instead Of Fruitcake

Dec 7: Canon PowerShot Pro1 Firmware Update

Canon has released new firmware (version 1.0.1.0) for their Powershot Pro 1 which includes the following improvements:

- AF speed improvements
- Specification changes for the way images are displayed in Continuous AF Mode
- Zoom ring responsiveness improvements

Download it at PowerShot Pro1 Firmware Update

Dec 7: Trek Thumbdrive-camera

'Trek 2000 International plans to launch its thumb drive-camera in the local market next quarter. The Singapore-based company specializing in designs of portable storage devices and digital products has also tied up with Bangalore-based Bharat Electronics to produce the device locally.

The device is capable of storing up to eight hours of audio and can take up to about 3,000 pictures. It can also capture around two minutes of video and store 16-256 MB in a thumbdrive.

The company has set up an R&D center in Bangalore to customize its personal storage solutions. It has a range of 15 thumbdrives grouped in three categories - general, high-security and consumer applications. The consumer application thumbdrives are 4-in-1 devices with MP3, voice recording, FM and storage media which costs Rs 5,500.'

Read more at Trek to Launch Thumbdrive Camera

Dec 6: Underwater Photography 101

'In the old days, scuba photography was a prohibitively expensive hobby as special underwater casings for SLR cameras could cost up to RM10,000 and beyond. Also, there were a limited number of underwater-only film cameras.

But with the advent of digital cameras and ready-made casings for them, scuba photography has become a much more affordable pursuit. For instance, the 5 Megapixel Olympus C-5060 digital camera and its casing (that we used during a hands-on workshop conducted by Olympus Malaysia at Berjaya Redang Beach Resort in October) costs under RM4,000.

The other camera that I “test-drove” was the 8 Megapixel C-8080, which received the EISA (European Imaging and Sound Association) awards for Best Digital Camera 2004/2005 in September....'

Read more at Underwater Photography 101 - Found via PhotographyBLOG

Dec 6: Sony DSC-P72 Review - OC Service

OC-Service.com reviews the Sony DSC-P72 and writes - 'Sony is one of the top digital cameras producer. Browsing their offer we find the ‘middle class’ of the P family cameras. Those are small cameres designed mostly for amateur photographers who need a camera to take good pictures without playing with changing the settings. Our Sony Cyber-Shot DSC P72 is the improved version of P71, it is smaller, has got a new MPEG VX mode, Memory Stick Pro and USB 2.0 support. It also has a function of recording voice movies....

Generally it is a good camera for its price, its easy servicing allows to take nice pictures even those who are not interested in photography. It is small and light – that allows to take it everywhere. What I would like – the shutter time support.'

US Readers Buy the “Sony DSC-P72 Cyber-shot Digital Camera”
UK Readers Buy the “Sony DSC-P72 Cyber-shot Digital Camera”

Dec 6: Digital Photography In the News - 6-12-04

As usual, Digital Photography is in the news a lot today - here are just three of the latest articles from the last few hours from our news feeds.

- How to Choose a Digital Camera - 'What should I get if I want to buy a digital camera?'
- What to Know About Digital Photography - From megapixels to memory cards, options abound for the digital camera buyer. We'll try to make your decision a little easier.'
- Daring to go digital - 'Unique camera store forgoes film, processing'
- Digital SLR camera's response faster
- Microsoft's digital toolbox

Dec 6: Digital cameras & resolution

By Jakob Jelling
Snapjunky.com

While analyzing any camera, one of the most important qualities of a photograph that a person seeks, is resolution. This word itself needs a brief discussion before progressing onto its implication upon a digital camera. This is a word that seems to almost every new photographer as a nightmare. With all the myths and irrelevant information circulating all around, this is quite common. This however is an effort to clear those misty myths and provide good information for everyone. Without any complexity, generally a photograph, either viewed on the screen or printed, is composed of infinitesimal dots (called pixels). The greater amount of these dots that can fit per inch of space, the smaller the dots and the sharper the image. This is the basis of understanding ... resolution!

Considering an image at 100 dots per inch that is one square inch in size. It is comprised of 100 X 100 pixels. Now changing this image four-times to four square inches. This image is quite clear. Now the same 100 X 100 dots exist, but with only 25 dots per inch. The appearance becomes grainy. This is the factor know as resolution that determines this quality of image. Hence it can now be interpreted by any person what the importance of resolution is and where it is required in the filed of photography. While purchasing a digital camera, resolution is a very important factor to take into account when settling upon buying a particular one.

Digital camera resolution comes in as Mega pixels. A Mega pixel is composed of one million pixels. The greater the number of Mega pixels, the greater becomes the standard of quality of the photograph or picture. As a standard, one mega pixel is the minimum bottom line below which a digital camera must not be usually purchased. This is a general decided value for any amateur photographers also, and the exact value of higher mega pixels is not a concern for people who do not intend to print the photographs. In an effort to scrutinize the pixels in an image out of sheer anxiety, a person can magnify the display in a photo editor, like a little magnifying glass, and they become very much visible!

The resolution decides the ultimate the future of the hard copy of a photograph being taken, whether a digital camera or a conventional camera. A print from a high-resolution photograph challenges anything produced from a chemical film camera. However a low-resolution image print of a photograph is quite appalling with fine details and restrained color transitions absent resulting from too few pixels. Thus the resolution can spoil an entire effort to freeze a memorable moment. Thus it is so vital. As a general rule a minimum of 200 pixels are required for each linear inch of a print. However, some printers get better results with 300 pixels per-inch of resolution.

The above discussion has brought into light a lot of relevant information regarding resolution and its application in the digital camera and photography. Also in the concluding lines it can only be stated for digital camera ... resolution is the real soul!

About the author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

Dec 6: Helping HP Set Course for the Future

'Larry Lesley's job at Hewlett-Packard Co. in Vancouver is complicated and simple at the same time: Run a networked multibillion-dollar business spanning the world and employing thousands that daily relies on the skill and ingenuity of front-line workers to beat the competition....

The results have come in fits and starts, but HP's most recent quarter shows promise.

Fourth-quarter revenue increased to $21.4 billion, up 8 percent over the same quarter last year with earnings up a strong 28 percent.'

Read more at Helping HP Set Course for the Future

Dec 5: Kyocera Mita FS-1018MFP Multifunction Device

Trusted Reviews reivews the Kyocera Mita FS-1018MFP and writes - 'the FS-1018MFP is cheaper to run, but not by enough to make it the only choice. It prints well, is easy to maintain and has a network connection built in, but it also has a relatively awkward control panel and limits to its scanner resolution, scanner availability and copy size. Despite the pictures in much of Kyocera’s literature, the £50 document feeder is an optional extra, too. With all this in mind, the FS-1018MFP doesn't quite cover all the bases that a device like this should.'

Dec 5: Canon 9950F scanner Review - Photo-i

Photo-i reviews the Canon 9950F scanner and writes - 'The 9960F produces exceptional scans of prints and other art work, in operation it is a quiet unit. At the front of the scanner is a set of EZ Buttons, these will allow you to instantly use the scanner for copying, Scanning, Scan to file or Scan to e-mail. The scanner on/off button is hidden away under the buttons. The scanner is built to a very high standard with good quality materials used throughout. I would have liked the power supply unit to have been incorporated in the scanner case, there is enough room in there to put my lunch box too. I liked the sprung Film Adapter Unit, the lid won't crash down if you let go of it. Someone at Canon has put a lot of thought into the film holders, they worked very well and kept the film flat at all times. However, I did have a couple of 120 films which were too tight, the twin strip 120 holder will prove very popular with the professional and serious hobbyist.'

Read more information on the Canon 9950F Scanner

Dec 5: HP Photosmart M407 Review - PhotographyBLOG

PhotographyBLOG HP Photosmart M407 and writes - 'The HP Photosmart M407 is an average kind of camera at an average kind of price. It is ideally suited to complete beginners to photography, as HP have put a tremendous amount of effort into making it simple to understand and operate. The great help system, accessible external controls and simple, uncluttered menu system all combine to make the M407 one of the most approachable digicams available. On the other hand, many key areas fail to impress.'

Read more about the HP Photosmart M407
US Readers Buy the “HP Photosmart M407 4MP Digital Camera”
UK Readers Buy the “HP PhotoSmart M407 4MP Digital camera”

Dec 5: Olympus C-7000z Review - CNET

CNET reviews the Olympus C-7000z and writes - 'Packed with more than three-quarters of a million pixels per ounce, this Olympus C-7000Z is typical of the breed of compact alternatives to a digital SLR or an EVF-equipped camera. Full manual controls; your choice of JPEG, TIFF, or raw file formats; versatile movie features; and a 5X zoom lens that takes you out to 190mm (35mm equivalent) as well as focuses to less than one inch in macro mode are among this camera's more interesting assets. The only extras a serious photographer could wish for would be support for add-on lenses and an external flash connection; this camera is otherwise ready for just about anything you can throw at it.'

Read more about the Olympus C7000z

Buy the “Olympus C7000 7MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom”

Dec 5: Pentax Optio S40 Review - CNET

CNET reviews the Pentax Optio S40 and writes - 'Flexible automatic-exposure options, easy manual focus, and histogram-assisted exposure adjustments will please snapshooters who want to fine-tune pictures on the fly, but the Pentax Optio S40 lacks the manual controls enthusiasts look for. This ultracompact, 4-megapixel Pentax loses points for its average image quality and performance, but its biggest shortcomings are found in optical and LCD viewfinders that give you the worst of both worlds.'

Read more information or reviews on the Pentax Optio S40

US Readers buy the “Pentax Optio S40
UK Readers buy the ”Pentax Optio S40

Dec 5: Fujifilm Finepix S5100 Review - Imaging Resource

Imaging Resource reviews the Fujifilm Finepix S5100 and writes - 'The previous Fuji FinePix 2800 and 3800 Zoom cameras were exceptional values for the money, and the updated Fuji FinePix S5100 offers the same great value with the addition of a 4.0-megapixel CCD and a longer 10x zoom lens. The S5100's higher resolution is a welcome improvement, providing great image quality for a budget-priced digital camera, and its 10x optical zoom is excellent for distant subjects. Its color is more accurate than that of most consumer digicams, although that means it's less saturated on bright colors than most consumer cameras. My only real complaint about its images is that they tend to be a little contrasty. But then, most consumers seem to like more contrast than I do personally, so most folks would likely find the S5100 pleasing in this regard. Overall, the Fuji S5100 has just about all an enthusiast user could want in terms of expanded photographic controls, including full Manual exposure mode for ultimate creativity. About all it lacks relative to its competitors in the 10x zoom category is image stabilization.'

Read more information and reviews on the Fujifilm Finepix S5100

Dec 5: Canon Powershot S1 IS Review - Photoxels

Photoxel reviews the Canon Powershot S1 IS and writes - 'The 10x optical zoom is whisper quiet thanks to an Ultrasonic Motor, and the addition of image stabilization technology allows hand holding the camera at long focal lengths without the use of a tripod in many instances. Full exposure flexibility, scene modes (Image Zone), FlexiZone AF, and a Vari-Angle LCD monitor are features that add substantially to the enjoyment of this digital camera. Even though the Canon S1 does not have a dedicated macro mode, the lens can focus as close as 10 cm (3.9 in.).'

Read our review of the Canon Powershot S1 IS

Read more reviews and information on the Canon Powershot S1 IS

Dec 5: Fujifilm Finepix E550 Review - Digital Camera Info

Digital Camera Info reviews the Fujifilm Finepix E550 and writes - 'The Fujifilm FinePix E550 has a 1/1.7-inch, 6.3 MP CCD, a large 2.0-inch LCD screen, and manual control over white balance, exposure compensation, ISO, focus, aperture, shutter speed, light metering settings, and flash. It captures video in two ratios at 30 fps, and still images in five resolutions. The controls and the main LCD Menu are logical and simple to navigate. However, the camera only has four scene modes; this, when paired with the numerous manual controls, appears to place this camera into the gray area within the general point-and-shoot grouping.'

Read more information on the Fujifilm Finepix E550

Dec 3: New SanDisk Gadgets Make Great Gifts for Non-Geeks

Sandisk Press Release
Music, Memories and Mobility: New SanDisk Gadgets Make Great Gifts for Non-Geeks

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 2, 2004--With Prices At $10 to $200, There's Something For Every Budget, From Shoot & Store Flash Cards and Card Readers to MP3 Music Players

When shopping for the holidays, think digital. Keep in mind that great things come in small packages, and this year SanDisk(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:SNDK) has plenty of electronic delights to brighten up the gift-giving season.

The world's original inventor and largest manufacturer of flash memory cards for digital cameras and other portable devices has some of the coolest stuff this side of the North Pole. SanDisk is offering a bagful of goodies that just about anyone can enjoy -- from new ultra-compact flash MP3 music players to a viewer that can show digital snapshots on virtually any TV set. And for budget-minded shoppers, SanDisk has stocking-stuffers that cost as little as $9.99 for Shoot & Store(TM) flash memory cards that work in most popular digital cameras and can be purchased at supermarkets and drug stores.

SanDisk products are available worldwide at the more than 93,000 retail outlets, including electronics and photography stores.

-- Flash MP3 Music Players: SanDisk recently launched its new line of flash-based Digital Audio Players, which are compact yet packed with features such as playback of MP3 and WMA music tracks, FM stereo radio and voice recorder. Smaller, lighter and far more durable than hard-drive players, the SanDisk players can slip into a pocket or purse. With the included ear buds, the stereo sound is great and the player can operate for up to 15 continuous hours on its single AAA alkaline battery. SanDisk's Digital Audio Players are available in capacities of 256 megabytes, 512MB and 1 gigabyte, storing approximately eight to 32 music CDs, depending on capacity. Also included is a mini USB cable that can be hooked up to a personal computer for easy music transfers. Suggested retail prices range from $89.99 to $199.99.

-- High-Speed Flash Memory Cards -- SanDisk Ultra(R) II and super-fast SanDisk Extreme(TM) III flash cards are designed specifically for the latest generation of digital SLR cameras. These cards come in the three most popular formats -- CompactFlash(R), SD(TM) cards and Memory Stick PRO(TM), and work just fine with any of the myriad of format-appropriate digital camera models on the market this year. For a gift that will be appreciated by avid digital camera users, get them a SanDisk Ultra II or SanDisk Extreme III 1GB or 2GB card. Prices range from $99.95 to $299.95.

-- SanDisk Photo Album: Wondering how to share digital photos with friends and family? It's easy with the SanDisk Photo Album (SPA), a player that connects to a television. With this device, you can present a slide show of digital pictures from just about any type of flash memory -- including eight different card formats as well as USB flash drives. The SPA enables you to instantly create and store slide shows, as well as video clips, without using a computer. Further, by connecting the SPA to a stereo system, it becomes an MP3 music jukebox, playing tunes from a memory card or a USB flash drive. It can even run background music during slide shows. Another handy feature is that the SPA lets you tag those images that you want to print at your local 1-hour print center, without standing in line at an image viewing station. Measuring just 7.4 x 2.6 x 0.8 inches (187 x 66 x 20 millimeters) and with a suggested retail price of $49.99, the SPA packs a lot of entertainment in a compact device for your living room.

-- Cruzer(R) Micro USB Flash Drive: Computer users never have enough transportable memory, so a USB flash drive is a welcome gift. The SanDisk Cruzer Micro is about half the size of a pack of chewing gum but it carries up to 512MB of data -- more than the memory of 350 floppy disks -- and can store all types of data, from digital photos to MP3 music files. And here's a bonus: The Micro mates with an optional music player called the Cruzer Micro MP3 Companion, which can play MP3 or WMA files. If you want more music, just carry extra Cruzer Micros. Suggested retail prices, depending on capacity, are $29.99 to $59.99 for the Micros and $64.99 for the Companion.

-- ImageMate(R) 12-in-1 PC Card Reader/Writer: Photography buffs who want to transfer their pictures, digital videos or any other data to a computer can do so easily with the SanDisk ImageMate 12-in-1 reader. Just push a button on the device for rapid transfers, printing, emailing or displaying. As a handy accessory for a laptop or a desktop PC, the reader comes with a removable docking station, a USB cable, and Adobe(R) Photoshop(R) Album 2.0 Starter Edition software. It supports virtually every memory card format currently available with no additional adapters, and multiple cards can be inserted simultaneously for card-to-card data transfers. Suggested retail price is $34.99.

Aside from these nifty items, gift-givers should be sure to stock up on extra flash memory cards when giving digital cameras. SanDisk is the only company that manufactures and markets all of the major memory card formats.

SanDisk is the original inventor of flash memory cards and is the world's largest supplier of flash memory data storage card products, using its patented, high-density flash memory and controller technology. SanDisk is headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA and has operations worldwide, with more than half of its sales outside of the U.S.

SanDisk's product images can be downloaded from http://www.sandisk.com/about/media.asp#photos

SanDisk's web site/home page address: http://www.sandisk.com

SanDisk, the SanDisk logo, CompactFlash, ImageMate, Cruzer and SanDisk Ultra are trademarks of SanDisk Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. MobileMate, SanDisk Extreme and TransFlash are trademarks of SanDisk Corporation. Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick PRO Duo and Memory Stick Duo are trademarks of Sony Corporation. RS-MMC is a trademark of he MultiMediaCard Association. SanDisk is an authorized licensee of the SD, miniSD and MultiMediaCard trademarks. Other brand names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder(s).

Dec 2: Liquid lenses for camera phones

'Camera phones will soon have lenses made from nothing more substantial that a couple of drops of oil and water, but will still be capable of auto focusing, and even zooming in on subjects. So says Etienne Paillard, CEO of French start-up Varioptic.

The company was founded two years ago to exploit two core technology patents covering lenses based on the principles of electro-wetting. This is the tendency of liquid to spread on a substrate, Paillard explains. “It means we can tune the shape of the drop to create a lens. Think about a tunable lens, like in the human eye,” he suggests.

The lens has a simple structure: two liquids, of equal density, sandwiched between two windows in a conical vessel. One liquid is water, which is conductive. The other, oil, acts as a lid, allowing the engineers to work with a fixed volume of water, and provides a measure of stability for the optical axis. The interface between the oil and water will change shape depending on the voltage applied across the conical structure. At zero volts, the surface is flat, but at 40 volts, the surface of the oil is highly convex, Paillard said.'

Read more at Liquid lenses for camera phones

Dec 2: Casio Exilim EX-Z55 Review - DCRP

DCRP reviews the Casio Exilim EX-Z55 and writes - 'Overall, the Casio Exilim EX-Z55 is a good "go-anywhere" point-and-shoot camera that holds up well against the likes of the Canon PowerShot SD300, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX7, and the Sony DSC-T1. While I haven't tested it yet, the Pentax Optio S5i shares the lens and many of the internals of the Z55. The camera does its best work outdoors, where it takes very nice photos, save for some blurriness around the edges of the frame. Indoors you'll be frustrated with an LCD that only "gains up" in a few of the scene modes (most of which aren't appropriate for indoor flash shots), poor low light focusing, redeye, and a fairly weak flash. But for a compact camera for vacation photos the Z55 fits the bill.'

Read more about the Casio Exilim EX-Z55

Get the Latest Price on the Casio Exilim EX-Z55

Dec 2: ATP 2GB SD Flash Card

ATP Electronics Inc. Press Release
Ready for Mass Production - Highest Capacity SD card for Data Storage Intensive Applications in GPS mapping, Healthcare, Professional Grade Photography and music players

Sunnyvale, CA (Dec. 1, 2004) - ATP Electronics Inc., a leading manufacturer of high capacity, high performance digital flash media products, announced today that its 2GB SD flash cards are ready for mass production for its OEM customers, distributors and retailers. The 2GB cards, in addition to offering a superior level of performance (60x or up to 10MB/s), are designed to meet the specific demand for higher capacity, highly durable flash cards set forth by GPS navigation units, high end digital photography, medical record keeping, and the ever-popular portable music-players.

The ATP 2GB cards, like its smaller SD siblings, are intended to withstand any harsh environment, offering ample protection from water, dust, electrostatic discharge, and
extreme temperatures. This superior versatility and reliability makes the new ATP cards ideal for any indoor or outdoor portable electronic application.

The twofold increase in capacity to 2GB will also allow high end, professional digital photographers to store pictures with the highest quality settings (130 6-megapixel, uncompressed Tiff files). Although this does result in colossal file sizes, a super fast transfer rate will continue to allow for the fast, snappy shooting that action shooting requires.

With each flash card holding 2GB of data, reliability is also a significant issue. ATP uses the highest quality components giving the cards a 10 year data retention rating and a lifetime of 100,000 read/writes.

ATP 2GB SD cards will be priced at a MSRP of $249. For more information, please visit flash.atpinc.com or email flash@atpinc.com.

About ATP:
Founded in 1991, ATP (Advanced Technology & Packaging) Electronics, Inc. is a recognized leading manufacturer of high-capacity flash digital media solutions as well as top quality memory products, including high-density memory modules for servers, workstations, desktop, cell computing and embedded systems. With strictly regulated ISO 9001 certified facilities and advanced technologies in memory packaging, module designs, testing and qualification, ATP's latest products feature 1GB SD and MMC, 512MB miniSD and RS-MMC, as well as high speed DDR333/400 and high-density 2GB/1GB/512MB modules. ATP is committed to Performance, Quality, Compatibility and Reliability. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, ATP also has offices in UK, Taiwan and China. For more information on ATP's flash memory products, visit http://flash.atpinc.com or email flash@atpinc.com.

ATP and the ATP logo are trademarks of ATP Electronics Inc. ATP Electronics Inc. is an authorized licensee of the SD trademark. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Dec 2: Pentax Optio 750Z Review - DP Review

DP Review reviews the Pentax Optio 750z and writes - 'It's odd but there's something strangely appealing about the 750Z's retro styling, the faux leather front and chrome piping, it's almost comforting. Don't be fooled though this is one seriously modern camera with a huge range of functionality, both prosumer and technology based. Indeed there isn't a huge amount the 750Z can't do, it's fully loaded, and that can sometimes make it a bit confusing.'

Read more about the Pentax Optio 750Z

Get the Latest Price on the Pentax Optio 750Z

Dec 2: Olympus C-7000 Zoom Review - DP Review

DP Review reviews the Olympus C-7000 and writes - 'The C-7000 is so unlike C-xxxx cameras of old it's almost worth Olympus using a new notation to distinguish it. It's considerably smaller and lighter, much thinner and yet no lighter on features. Despite its compact proportions it's probably the most comfortable of the compact seven megapixel digital cameras thanks to its stubby rubber front grip.'

Read more reviews and information on the Olympus C7000

Dec 2: Casio Exilim Pro EX-P700 Review - DP Review

DP Review has a good review of the Casio Exilim Pro EX-P700 and writes - 'Image quality was very good, although to our eye it fell just short of being good enough to influence the overall camera rating to a 'Highly Recommended' (but it really wasn't that far off). Casio need to cool off on image processing too, their noise reduction was just there all the time and you can see it (not good). In use it's a fairly nice camera to shoot with, I never really found myself waiting for it or wanting it to do more, and the final outcome was nearly always what I wanted.'

Read more about the Casio Exilim Pro EX-P700

Get the Latest Price on the Casio Exilim EX-P700

Dec 2: Canon Powershot G6 Review - DP Review

DP Review reviews the Canon Powershot G6 and writes - 'The G6 isn't quite perfect but the curious thing about this camera is that despite the fact that it doesn't perform as well as the Sony DSC-V3 (our pick of the bunch) it does have the ability to win your favor by delivering consistently good images and drawing you into the photographic process more than you get from some other cameras.'

Read more reviews and information on the Canon Powershot G6 Digital Camera

Dec 2: Sony Cybershot DSC-V3 Review - DP Review

DP Review reviews the Sony Cybershot DSC-V3 and writes - 'Good AF improves lots of things, most notably shot to shot time which for the DSC-V3 was very fast indeed, just over a second. This camera's slowest function is startup which is down to a rather sluggish lens extension mechanism (Olympus seem to have this nailed). Otherwise there's virtually in the everyday use of the camera which will leave you tapping your fingers against the body in anticipation, it will be ready.'

Read more reviews of the Sony Cybershot DSC-V3

Dec 2: Sony Cybershot DSC-P150 Review - Photoxels

Photoxels reviews the Sony Cybershot DSC-P150 and writes - 'The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P150 is very easy to use, compact enough to carry with you anywhere at all times, and gives excellent pictures with point-and-shoot simplicity. With its incredibly fast startup time, fast shutter response, long battery life, and AF-assist illuminator, the P150 is always ready to capture those special moments. It is currently perhaps the best P&S around.'

Read more about the Sony Cybershot DSC-P150

Dec 2: Olympus Camedia D535 Review - Photoxels

Photoxels reviews the Olympus Camedia D-535 and writes - 'This camera is really intended for those just starting to get interested in photography or simply wants an affordable point-and-shoot for regular 4x6 in. prints. It has 3x optical zoom with a 35mm equivalent of 38-114mm. The 114mm is perfect for portrait head-shots. Metering is Center-Weighted Average and works fine in most situations. In situations where there is a lot of highlights, such as an expanse of bright sky, the D-535 allows you to dial in a positive exposure compensation to ensure your main subject is properly exposed.'

Dec 2: Sigma SD10

CNET reviews the Sigma SD10 and writes - 'Sigma's SD10 is the follow-up to the company's flawed but interesting SD9 digital SLR, which made exceptionally sharp photos in good light. The SD10 incorporates an upgraded Foveon X3 sensor, a three-layered imager with 3.4 million pixels and 10.3 million photodetectors. The new sensor partially overcomes the SD9's biggest weakness, which was its lack of high ISO sensitivities for low-light photography. But Sigma failed to correct most of the SD9's design and performance flaws, and the SD10 remains substantially less versatile and well rounded than competing dSLRs.'

Read more reviews and information on the Sigma SD10

Dec 2: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20 Review - Globe Technology

Globe Technology reviews the Panasonic Lumx FZ20 and writes - 'In the end, the Lumix DMC FZ-20 is still a fantastic camera. The picture quality is stunning for a five megapixel model, and the optical image stabilization quickly becomes indispensable. The move towards more manual control will certainly impress the more pro-oriented shutterbugs, and even though it's no replacement for a digital SLR model, it's certainly a great backup model. Now if only they could get the price down ...'

Read more about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20

Dec 1: Nikon Coolpix 8800 Review - Megapixel

Megapixel Reviews the Nikon Coolpix 8800 and writes - 'The Coolpix 8800 is capable of capturing extremely detailed images, especially when used in RAW or TIFF (HI) formats, which use no compression, and thereby completely avoid the potential artefacts that might be caused by the lossy JPEG process.

Regrettable however, is the fact that the software included with the camera, Picture Project, is still not sufficiently developed to support the RAW format thoroughly, and remains confused and overly complicated.'

Read more about the Nikon Coolpix 8800

Dec 1: ProFotoSoftware 1.10

ProFotoSoftware Press Release
ProFotoSoftware have today released version 1.10 of PFS Image Darkroom for Windows,a program for converting Canon RAW images from EOS Digital SLRs into 16 bit and 8 bit TIF files as well as 8 bit JPEG files.

This new release adds support for the 20D and 1Ds Mark II EOS Digital SLRs, as well as improving the Raw Preview facility.

PFS Image Darkroom improves digital photographer's workflow by removing the frustrating delays associated with Raw image processing. The software remains fully operational during Raw processing, enabling users to prepare the next image or set of images for processing instead of pausing whilst the processing is performed.

PFS Image Darkroom provides a configurable Instant Preview of changes to development settings, enabling the user to quickly select the best settings for each image, as well as multiple images simultaneously.

The program processes the images quickly - on our test PC (Pentium 4, 2.5 ghz,512 megs RAM, Windows NT4) a batch of 400 EOS 300D images was developed into 16 bit TIF files, complete with IPTC and ICC information, in just 80 minutes.

A trial version can be downloaded from: http://www.profotosoftware.com

Dec 1: Olympus C-7000/C-70 Zoom Review - Digital Eye

Digital Eye reviews the Olympus C-7000 and writes - 'Image quality of C-7000 is very good. Most images are well exposed and very sharp. Colors look very natural and well saturated, thanks to Olympus’ TruePic TURBO image processing. At ISO 200 and below, noise is well controlled. At ISO 400, like most compact cameras, noise could get distracting, but images are certainly usable.'

Read more information and reviews on the Olympus C-7000

Dec 1: Digital Cameras cost 31% Less than 2003

The NPD Group Press Release
Average Selling Price of Tech Products Continues to Decline: Plasma TV Prices Dip Below $2,500 According to Latest Results From NPD CE Price Watch

PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, November 29, 2004 - Average prices of many technology products were down during the month of September according to the latest NPD Consumer Electronics Price Watch, a monthly pricing monitor from The NPD Group that provides a top-line look into the pricing of tech products being sold in the U.S.

September prices for a market basket of technology items, including plasma TVs and digital cameras, fell 18 percent versus September 2003, the sharpest year-over-year percentage decline since April. Overall pricing was below $12,000 for the second consecutive time as total pricing for the Price Watch basket of goods fell $2,533 from last September’s level. Since NPD began its Price Watch monitor in January 2003, the products tracked have fallen in price more than $5,300 or 31 percent.

September results were driven by continued pricing declines in the display industry. Plasma TVs dropped $250 month to month, a decline of more than 9 percent, to an average retail price of $2,467.

“This was the first time the average price of Plasma TVs has dipped below $2,500,” said Stephen Baker, director of industry analysis for The NPD Group. “This was the direct result of an influx of under $2,000 models that began to hit store shelves right after Labor Day.”

Other flat panel products like the 20-inch LCD TV and the 17-inch LCD PC monitor also saw their most significant sequential price declines of 2004 in September. Both of these categories benefited from growth in supply and resulting cost declines that have rippled through the supply chain down to the retail buyer. Twenty-inch LCD TVs hit an all-time low of $857, nearly $200 below their average price at the start of the year. Seventeen-inch LCD monitors, whose sales have been weak for the past year as flattening, and in some cases increasing, price trends served to lessen demand, saw prices fall 4 percent versus 2003 to a new low of $445.

“Other key categories that helped push prices lower included digital cameras, which fell 31 percent from 2003, and DVD Home recorders, which were down 34 percent,” Baker added. “Both recorders and digital cameras also fell sharply from August and both established all time low prices in September as well.”

The average 3 mega-pixel digital camera now sells for $207 and seems poised to be under $200, making it the hot product for the holiday season. DVD recorders, while still expensive at $331 are down 51 percent, almost $350, from their price in January 2003 and have fallen further and faster than any item in the Price Watch priced under $1,000.

About the NPD Consumer Electronics Price Watch
The NPD Consumer Electronics Price Watch monitors pricing on 27 of the best selling product categories in the consumer electronics space, which includes a cross-section of the products people buy and is made up of a “market basket” of the most frequently purchased electronic products, including televisions, PCs, cameras and media players.

About The NPD Group, Inc.
Since 1967 The NPD Group has provided reliable and comprehensive sales and marketing information for a wide range of industries. NPD provides critical knowledge on what is selling, where, to whom and why to help our clients make more successful, fact-based business decisions. Today more than 1,300 manufacturers and retailers rely on NPD to help them better understand their customers, product categories, distribution channels and competition in order to help guide their business and positively impact sales and revenues. Information from The NPD Group is available for the following major vertical sectors: apparel, appliances, automotive, beauty, cellular, consumer electronics, food and beverage, foodservice, footwear, home improvement, housewares, imaging, information technology, music, software, travel, toys and video games. For more information visit www.npd.com.

Dec 1: Olympus Studio 1.2

Olympus Press Release
Olympus Studio - Advanced RAW Image Photofinishing and Camera Control, Now with Powerful Support for the E-300

Olympus Imaging Corporation (President: Hiroshi Komiya) is pleased to announce the “Olympus Studio 1.2” software package. In addition to the features of the “Olympus Studio” package, which provides powerful digital work-flow support for digital single-lens reflex users, including professional photographers, the new package provides advanced RAW photofinishing and camera control functions. It also supports the “E-300” entry-level single-lens reflex camera.

Product Features
1) RAW photofinishing and camera control functions for “E-300” entry-level digital single-lens reflect camera ( 8 megapixels )
2) Rapid response for stress-free setting of RAW photofinishing parameters
3) New “automatic tone adjustment” function - By automatically setting and adjusting optimal tone curves for individual parts of the image, the software provides tone gradation even in parts darkened by backlighting or shadowed by excessive frontlighting. The result is images that appear closer to naked-eye impressions.

Dec 1: NHJ Foxz3

Camborg announces that Japanese manufacturer NHL have upgraded their Foxz digital camera line with the new 3.2 megapixel Foxz3.

'The Foxz3 features 3.2 Mega-Pixel and a 2 inch preview screen. The kick are the measurements of the Foxz3: （W）100mm ×（H）58mm ×（D）12mm. At 12mm it is thinner than the Casio EX-S100. Of course the casio has better optics. The weight of the Che-ez Foxz3 is 86g. NHJ also releases the Foxz3 as Hello Kitty version.'

Read more at Camborg: New NHJ Foxz3 3.2MP Ultra-Thin Digital Camera

Dec 1: Digital photo kiosks are dandy, but not all are created equal

'There was a time when one-hour film processing seemed like a great deal. The P-I printed out 12 test pictures from a CD at a variety of local digital print kiosks. See how they rated.

Then came the digital age, with instant images on the back of the camera, but nothing to pack in your wallet, hang on the wall or pass around work. Now there's a new breakthrough: digital photo kiosks.

They advertise do-it-yourself prints in minutes. As an added bonus, most allow idiot-proof, on-the-spot editing -- from cropping to adjusting colors to eliminating redeye.

Sure, we could print our digital photos at home -- if we want to become Photoshop pros to do the editing and invest beaucoup bucks in a high-quality printer, ink and paper that will stand the test of time....'

Read more at Digital photo kiosks are dandy, but not all are created equal

Dec 1: Sharpening and Workflow

About.com has a good article on Sharpening and Workflow and writes:

'With film images, sharpness is generally determined by the quality of our equipment and the film in use - so long as we hold the camera steady. Almost always the post-processing in lab or darkroom is aimed at retaining the sharpness we managed to get on film, though occasionally we may use some diffusion for effect.

With digital images - and this applies to some extent to scanned film images - we have other considerations and far greater possibilities for sharpening after the event. In general this is not a way to make up for our deficiencies in taking the images (although it can sometimes help) but more concerned with getting the most out of our digital images.'

Dec 1: DxO Optics Pro updated for EOS 20D

Imaging Resource reports that 'French software company DO Labs has today announced that its DxO Optics Pro software has been updated to support the Canon EOS 20D digital SLR.... Today's announcement means that users of the Canon EOS 20D can now use DxO Optics Pro to correct for these common image flaws without the need to spend time manually working on the images.'

Read more at NEWS! - DxO Optics Pro updated for EOS 20D

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