Digital Photography Blog: Digital Camera Reviews, Ratings, News, Tips and Tutorials.
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Hardware Zone reviews the Nikon DX2 and writes - 'Handling-wise, we had no complaints with the Nikon D2X. Controls were strategically placed and the durable magnesium alloy body comes armored in rubber seals to keep out moisture and dust. It is built to last too, with a rated shutter lifespan of over 150,000 counts. Up from the D1X's 2.0-inch LCD monitor, the D2X has a 2.5-inch LCD monitor with increased resolution. The improved RGB histogram display, and separate histograms for the individual red, blue and green channels is a long awaited feature too. The viewfinder is clear and bright unlike the tunnel-like view we get from other DSLRs.
The D2X also chalked a few points up for user friendliness with the “Rotate Tall” orientation sensor, World Time function as well as GPS support for those on the go. You can further enhance your mobility by attaching the new WT-2/2A or WT-1/1A wireless transmitter for file transfers or remote control of the camera using a computer running Nikon Capture 4.2 (and later). The multiple exposure and image overlay functions are nice touches too, but not every user would find a need for them.'
Read more about the Nikon DX2 DSLR
Get the Latest Price on the Nikon - D2X Professional Digital SLR Camera'Digital still camera shipments surpassed 63m units worldwide in 2004, up more than 35% on 2003, and should pass 100 million units in 2008, according to the annual report and forecast from US-based Lyra Research. In 2004, Europe overtook the US for the first time as the largest market in terms of unit shipments, with Japan still third.
The forecast is issued to coincide with the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) show in Orlando, FL. As in 2003, sales in the 3-megapixel category were highest, but 5+ megapixel cameras are expected to lead in 2005, with most point-and-shoot cameras now shipping already in the 4- and 5-megapixel range.'
Read more at Europe Leads Digital Camera Boom
Digital Camera Info has a first impression review of the Casio Exilim EX-Z750 and writes - 'The 7.2-megapixel Casio Exilim EX-Z750 packs a lot of power in a 0.9-inch thick compact camera body. While it isn’t as attractive as some of the other Exilim models, it has a traditional brushed aluminum body that weighs only 4.5 ounces. The battery lasts an estimated 325 shots before needing a recharge, which is quite good for a digital camera, although many portable imagers now are surpassing that. With the high megapixel count, there are plenty of resolutions available for photographers who want to print large pictures and those who want to email files. The Z750 has helpful features such as an optical viewfinder and manual focus capabilities as well as some more dynamic and exciting features, such as Past Movie and ID Photo modes. The Casio Exilim EX-Z750 has plenty of manual control options, but users may have trouble accessing them. The Z750 isn’t the most strait-forward camera to navigate, but with incentives like 7.2 megapixels and nearly 30 scene modes, this digital camera will turn heads when it comes out in March for a retail price of $449.99.'
Read more about the Casio EX-Z750 digital camera
Buy the Casio Exilim EX-Z750
From the Sanyo News Release announcing the Sanyo Xacti C5 'The XACTI Digital Movie C5 will be presented in the field of digital imaging: The XACTI C5 sets bold new standards with its unique design. The interior of the youngest member of the C Series is refined and mature as well. The multi-talented C5 combines a dual purpose video and photo camera with the finest technology.'
Akihabara News reviews the Sanyo Xacti C5 and writes - 'An evolution and not a revolution. From an "artistic" point of view, the C5 offers nothing new compared to the C4. The small revolution is on the technical level, which allows the C5 to offer the same performance level as the C4 with 40% less electronics and a considerably thinner body. So, should you get a C5 instead of a C4? Yes, the C5 is an excellent machine, it's a thinner and more transportable machine than the C4.'
Steves Digicams reviews the Sanyo Xacti VPC-C5and writes - 'Bottom line - the Sanyo Xacti VPC-C5 is a hybrid digicam that produces great movies and even better still images. It can be slipped into almost any size pocket or handbag, and with its speedy performance, you can always be certain it's ready to capture those special moments. The only downfall is its limited flash range, but this is heavily outweighed by the positive attributes of this camera. The 5-megapixel images it yields have enough resolution for photo-quality prints up to 8x10-inches, maybe larger. The jury is still out on its interpolated 10-megapixel images (see our sample photo) - there is more resolution but the image quality suffers. Although it's a bit expensive, with a suggested price of around $699, we feel the C5 is worth it. I had a blast using this camera, it really is fun to use and it's a great conversation starter - people will definitely ask you about it. If you're a “lefty” living in the righty world then you owe it to yourself to check out this unique little gem.'
Pentax today announced a new firmware update for the Pentax *istD.
Steves Digicams reviews the Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro SLR and writes - 'The Fuji FinePix S3 Pro is a camera with two personalities. In Standard D-Range it produces excellent results both at 6 and 12 megapixel image sizes, but doesn't justify its $2,500 price versus the competiting dSLRs. Set D-Range to Wide and the S3 is transformed into an amazing portrait-taking image processor. Although a bit sluggish in this mode, its results may better satisfy the needs of your portrait business than anything else available today, more than justifying its price.'
Read more reviews of the Fujifilm Finepix S3 Pro DSLR
Get the Latest Price on the Fujifilm Finepix S3
The Sydney Morning Herald has a good article on What you Need in a Digital Camera. They point to some different features that you might want to take into consideration in addition to Megapixels:
Shuttertalk reviews the Ricoh Caplio R1V and writes - 'With the Caplio R1V, Ricoh have produced a consumer camera with some advanced features. While some manufactures prefer to simplify and focus on ease of use, it’s refreshing to see features such as manual focus, ISO 64 to 800, histogram overlay, interval timer and long exposure modes. I would have loved to see aperture priority, shutter priority and manual exposure modes as well, but I guess you can’t have everything.
Design-wise, the wide angle and telephoto range of the zoom lens makes it very versatile and attractive, and the compact, all metal case adds to the durability. The shutter response times and startup speeds nothing short of impressive, ensuring that photographers do less waiting and more shooting. If you’re willing to overlook the image quality issues with noise and over-zealous metering, the Caplio R1V could be the camera for you.'
Read more about the Ricoh Caplio R1V
Megapixel reviews the Fujifilm FInepix F810 and writes - 'The first impression one has from the F810 is that it is not only beautifully crafted, but also offers an impressive set of capabilities. These capabilities start at a complete set of shooting modes and extend to the availability of 2 image formats, the standard format with a 4:3 ratio, and a much less common 16:9 ratio that is probably the wave of the future as it fits the aspect ratio of HD televisions.
The F810 uses one of Fujifilm's own inventions, the Super CCD, a type of sensor that has, since its introduction, been the subject of some controversy. The Super CCD uses octagonal picture elements (pixels) that are arranged in a honeycomb pattern, and which allow the camera to produce an image with nearly double the quantity of pixels than are physically present on the sensor through an interpolation process. And in the case of the F810 with its 6.63 million pixel Super CCD, this translates into a 12 megapixel image size.'
Read more about the Fujifilm Finepix F810 digital camera
Get the Latest Price on the Fujifilm Finepix F810 6.3MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical ZoomHitachi Press Release: Hitachi Ramps 6-Gigabyte Microdrive to High Volume; Company Sweetens Arrival of Higher-Capacity One-Inch Hard Drive with Significant Price Reduction
Users of miniature MP3 players and other storage-demanding handheld consumer electronics can rejoice today as Hitachi Global Storage Technologies begins shipping its 6 gigabyte(a) (GB) one-inch hard drive in high volume. As the leader in one-inch hard drives, Hitachi is raising the stakes by making available the new Microdrive 3K6 with a suggested retail price reduction of up to 60 percent.
With 6 GB, the new Microdrive lets consumers carry even more of what they love—1500-3000 songs, 6,000 pictures (1 MB each) or 8 hours of MPEG-4 video(b). Hitachi is making all this possible, now, at a significant price reduction, retailing the 6 GB Microdrive for $299 USD or pennies per megabyte. Hitachi’s new suggested retail pricing represents the best value of capacity, reliability and performance at a price point that’s affordable to virtually all owners of consumer devices. The Microdrive 3K6 is available in removable Compact Flash Type II and embedded versions.
In its fourth generation, the newest Hitachi Microdrive product combines a mature architecture and unmatched reliability with industry-leading storage capacity. The Microdrive’s high standard of quality and breakthrough capacity are what users of consumer electronics products have come to expect. Hitachi is also seeing growing interest from makers of personal digital assistants and mobile phones in using the Microdrive as the preferred technology for miniature, high-capacity storage.
“The entertainment and experiences that consumers carry with them in portable digital devices are priceless; our intent with the higher capacity and lower pricing of the new Microdrive is to let a greater number of users enjoy the benefit of keeping their precious data close at hand,” said Bill Healy, senior vice president, product strategy and marketing, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. “The desire for smaller devices with increasingly larger capacities won’t be easily met in the short term, but we believe the 6 GB Microdrive will satisfy consumers’ immediate needs while we work on developing ever higher capacities in future Microdrive products.”
Hitachi recently announced plans for a 20-percent smaller one-inch hard drive with 8-10 GB of capacity. The new drive—nicknamed “Mikey,” the baby Microdrive—is expected later this year.
Priced to Sell
For the first time since its 1999 introduction, the new-generation Microdrive product is being offered at a suggested retail price of $299, representing a 40-percent reduction of Hitachi’s standard debut price of $499 for the one-inch product. The 4 GB version of the Microdrive 3K6 will be offered at $199, representing a 60-percent decrease.
The change in Hitachi’s pricing structure is made possible through a more efficient and developed, high-volume manufacturing process. It was also implemented to enable a greater set of users to enjoy the Microdrive benefits of high capacity, portability and flexibility for use in a host of devices.
“The Microdrive has always been a hot commodity at a great price due to its reliability and unique position in the market,” said Brian Campbell, president, Pexagon Technology. “But now, with lower price points and more capacity, the Microdrive is an even better value for users of handheld devices and digital cameras.”
Pexagon Technology is the North American distributor for Hitachi’s retail Microdrive products. Using a 4 GB Microdrive, Pexagon recently developed a USB-based external storage device under its own label.
A Time Tested Design
Hitachi’s latest Microdrive gives consumers more capacity for less. The 3K6 is intended to satisfy the current appetite for more storage on handheld consumer-electronic applications, especially digital music players, personal digital assistants and digital still/video cameras. Hitachi has increased storage capacity on the new Microdrive 3K6 by 50 percent over the previous generation.
The 3K6 continues the Microdrive family’s leadership in technology, offering a 30 percent performance improvement over its predecessor. The drive is available in 4 and 6-GB capacities and comes to the market in very high demand. Hitachi has significantly increased production to several million units per quarter to meet the growing demand for Microdrive products.
Hitachi has already shipped several hundred thousand Microdrive 3K6 products to customers and retail outlets worldwide. Broad-scale retail availability is expected in late February, depending on the region.
(a) 1 gigabyte = 1 billion bytes
(b) Actual storage may vary depending on compression rate applied
Technical Specifications
• Microdrive 3K6
• 6/4 GB
• 5 mm in height
• 16 grams
• 3,600 rpm
• 78 billion bits per square inch maximum areal density
• 1 glass disk platter
• 2 GMR recording heads
• 2000 G/1ms non-operating shock,
• 200 G/2ms operating shock
• 8.3 ms average latency
• 12 ms average seek time
• 230/280 mA—current (write) for +3.3VDC/+5VDC (+/- 5%)
• 13/15 mA—current (standby) for +3.3VDC/+5VDC (+/- 5%)
• 1.8 Bels typical idle acoustics
• 2.1 Bels typical operating acoustics
Seagate Press Release: Seagate Ships 6GB 1-Inch Hard Drive, Highest Capacity in the Industry
ST1 Series Now the Most Widely Adopted 1-Inch Hard Drive for Handheld Music Players
Seagate, the world’s leading maker of consumer electronics hard drives, announced today it is shipping the industry’s highest capacity 1-inch hard drive, a new 6GB model of its popular 1-inch ST1 Series hard drive for handheld applications. Seagate began shipping this industry-leading 6GB drive in December 2004. The 6GB Seagate ST1 Series can hold up to 150 hours—or 3,000 songs—of high-quality music files (128 kbps), providing breakthrough value and storage capacity for small music players, PDAs and handheld entertainment devices.
Consumers can now keep larger-than-ever libraries of music, video and digital photos in their pockets. Since it was first introduced in June 2004, the Seagate ST1 Series hard drive family has been used in the leading handheld music players and adopted by more entertainment device makers than any other 1-inch hard drive—including Creative, Olympus, Rio, Sanyo, Virgin and others—further confirming Seagate’s status as the number-one choice in consumer electronics hard drives.
Now shipping to select OEM customers in 6GB capacity, and also available in 5GB and 2.5GB, Seagate ST1 Series hard drives also deliver important and unique features for handheld applications. Seagate’s exclusive RunOn Technology ensures consistent music playback while in a high-motion environment, such as jogging—the drive actually senses and compensates for motion to stay on track. And Seagate’s G-Force Protection technology protects the drive against shock from mishandling, increasing the robustness of the devices into which it’s integrated.
“Consumer electronics suppliers demand that drive suppliers meet specific capacity, reliability, and technology requirements,” said Dave Reinsel, IDC program director for Storage Research. “Seagate’s launch of its next-generation ST1 Series 1-inch hard drive only six months after entering the handheld storage market demonstrates the company’s ability to leverage its technology prowess to serve a divergent, expanding consumer electronics market.”
Consumer demand for higher-capacity storage in handheld devices continues to grow, according to In-Stat/MDR, a leading digital communications research organization. “Consumers are aware that storage is something they need to consider when they make a consumer electronics purchasing decision,” said Mike Paxton, senior analyst at In-Stat/MDR. “This is a trend that has become prominent over the last twelve months, as more and more people are building their own digital content libraries.”
“Outside of the music market, handheld video players and other personal media players will increasingly incorporate 1-inch hard drive storage,” Paxton said. “In addition, other products like mobile phones and handheld GPS systems are expected to integrate hard disk drives in the near future.”
“Handheld entertainment device makers and system integrators need a storage partner that can ensure consistent and reliable supply, and provide substantial manufacturing scale, global supply chain and product design support,” said Pat O’Malley, Seagate senior vice president of Consumer Electronics Business Development. “Seagate delivers a complete business and technology partnership that enables growth in the pocket music player market segment.”
Seagate’s unique Design Service Centers (DSC) provide dedicated labs to help device makers and channel system integrators design innovative new consumer electronics products. DSC offer a variety of testing, integration and mechanical analysis services, to help customers design, innovate and deliver a new world of hard drive-capable entertainment.
RunOn Technology: Reliability under high-motion conditions.
People often bring their music player with them when walking, running or during other physical activities. Seagate’s ST1 Series differs from other hard drives because it is designed to compensate for the vibrations and harmonic distortion caused by such high-motion activities. The drive incorporates Seagate RunOn technology, which enables the drive to detect when these unwanted harmonic frequencies occur and automatically keep the read heads on track. Consequently, the RunOn technology can increase the reliability—and customer satisfaction—of a handheld consumer electronics device.
G-Force Protection: Protection against shocks from mishandling.
When many hard drive-based devices are dropped, the read/write heads remain over the media. A hard drop creates a shock that can cause the heads to slap against the hard drive’s platter—pieces of the head can be scattered in the drive, and a microscopic dent can be left on the platter. Seagate understands that drops happen, and builds the ST1 Series hard drive with G-Force Protection, which protects the drive against shock by moving the heads off the platter when the device is powered off. Thus, during a drop, no parts make contact with the media inside the drive. G-Force Protection makes any handheld device using the ST1 Series hard drive more robust and more reliable.
Lyra Research Press Release: Lyra Research Projects Worldwide Digital Camera Shipments Will Exceed 100 Million Units in 2008
In 2004 Europe surpassed the United States in unit shipments
Coinciding with this year’s Photo Marketing Association (PMA) show in Orlando, FL, Lyra Research’s Digital Photography Advisory Service has issued its worldwide digital camera forecast. Digital still camera shipments surpassed 63 million units worldwide in 2004, up more than 35 percent compared with 2003. Worldwide digital still camera shipments will surpass 100 million units in 2008.
In 2004, for the first time ever, Europe became the largest market in terms of unit shipments, taking the top spot from the United States, which is now second in terms of shipments. Japan is the third-largest market.
The 3-megapixel category remained the most popular digital camera segment in 2004, but shipments are increasing in the 4-, 5-, and 6-megapixel segments. Most point-and-shoot cameras now shipping are 4- and 5-megapixel models, and Lyra expects that, by 2005, 5+-megapixel cameras will account for more worldwide shipments than any other segment.
“The desire to produce prints from digital cameras is now a key factor in the consumer purchase decision. Many new camera buyers do not go to the store looking just for a digital camera--they are looking for a total photographic solution,” says Robert Palmer, director of Lyra’s Digital Photography Advisory Service. Camera and printer bundles proved very popular last year, and Lyra expects these solutions to gain further momentum in 2005. “Explosive growth in digital camera sales will fuel the market for photographic prints,” says Palmer. “More than 18 billion prints were produced from digital camera images in 2004, two-thirds of which were produced in the home.”
Lyra Research’s Digital Photography Advisory Service (DPS) is an online competitive research tool for marketing and product managers in the digital camera, photo-quality printer, and online photo-service industries. The DPS provides the advice and insight necessary to tap into the possibilities of today’s digital imaging market.
DP Review has a good review of the Oympus Stylus Verve - a stylish digital camera that is sure to be popular. They write - 'As a straightforward point-and-shoot camera the Stylus Verve does a perfectly good job at a competitive price point. The splash proofing alone will be enough to recommend it to some potential purchasers, and the simplicity of operation will endear it to first time users. I personally like the design, but I know not everyone shares this opinion. It's nice to see Olympus at least trying - albeit in a small way - to offer an alternative to the sea of look-alike silver boxes on the market.'
Read more reviews of the Olympus Stylus Verve digital camera
The Mamiya ZD is coming. Mamiya today announced it will be released during the summer (northern hemisphere) of 2005 and should retail for around £8000 (around US$12500) for the camera body and the £7.500 (around US$11900) for the ZD back.
Press Release: Mamiya are pleased to announce that initial production tests of the ZD camera have been successful. To ensure that the camera meets the high demands and requirements of the professional photographer there are significant field tests now taking place in Japan. It is estimated that these tests will conclude at the end of March and that once any modifications have been implemented full production will start and then be launched during summer 05.
The Mamiya ZD back is in final development and is also due for launch during summer 05.
Mamiya Japan are yet to announce final prices however we estimate that the ZD camera body will be no more expensive than £8k and the ZD back £7.5k.
Since the preview of the Mamiya ZD and ZD back at Photokina last year world-wide demand has been far greater than first expected. Although Mamiya will be ramping up manufacture to meet these demands it is believed that for the first few months they there will be a limited supply and there may not be enough to satisfy all orders.
JP Distribution will have a Mamiya ZD at Focus in the UK but it will be in a locked cabinet. Anyone wanting to handle will be welcome but must do so either before the show has opened or after it's closed. Visit JP Distribution at Focus - stand number E51.
Read more about the Mamiya ZD
PhotographyBLOG reviews the Fujifilm Finepix E550 and writes - 'The Fujifilm Finepix E550 improves on its cheaper siblings, the E510 and E500, and is definitely a quicker and more capable camera. If you are interested in action photography or simply want a more responsive camera, then the E500 is the model for you. It also offers a larger file size due to the 6 megapixel sensor (with 12 megapixel available through interpolation) and a usable ISO 800 mode which is great for really low-light photography. As with the other 2 models, it is also a commendable attempt by Fujifilm to make the finer points of photography accessible to a wider audience.'
Read more reviews of the Fujifilm Finepix E550
Get the Latest Price on the Konica Minolta DiMAGE E500
Camera town reviews the Sony Cybershot DSC-V3 digital camera and writes - 'The design of the DSC-V3 allows you to quickly capture a scene the way YOU want. Too many cameras hide important “overrides” deep within their on-screen menus, making it less likely that you'll bother using them, not so on the DSC-V3. Place the camera in “P” or “Green” mode and the camera becomes as simple to use as any point & shoot camera. otherwise switch to shutter-, aperture-priority, or manual mode when you want to capture a scene the way you desire. In Tv (Shutter-Priority) mode you can increase the shutter speed to capture faster action, allowing the camera to automatically adjust the aperture to maintain proper exposure. In Av (Aperture-Priority) mode you can change the aperture size (f-stop) and the camera will automatically adjust the shutter speed. Switch to M (Manual) mode and set both independently.'
Read more reviews of the Sony Cybershot DSC-V3
Apacer Press Release: Apacer Launches 1GB and the World’s First 2GB MultiMediaCard
Lead in the Trend of High Density Development for the Camera Phone Market
Hertogenbosch 23 February 2005 - Apacer Technology B.V. leads in the trend of high density development for the camera phones market and today launches the world’s first highest-density MultiMediaCard (MMC) compliable with MMC Specification Version 3.X, introduced by the MMCA (MultiMediaCard Association). In addition to storing more than 4000 images at 1024 x 768 pixel resolution, Apacer’s 2GB MMC supports plug-and-play with all MMC slots in mobile phones, digital cameras, MP3 players, PDAs and other compatible multimedia devices.
According to IDC, the shipping volume of mobile phones with card slots, reflecting a tremendous run-up, will exceed 246.8 million sets in 2005. “The demand for higher-density memory cards has been growing rapidly over the past years. To make mobile storage more convenient and allow everyone to enjoy the modern digital life, Apacer introduces the world’s first 2GB MMC, the highest density MMC card in the market.” stated Jason Jan, General Manager of Apacer Europe.
All Apacer MMC products have passed the strictest testing parameters to ensure product quality and data storage reliability. Eyeing the potential offered by MMC when applied to various multimedia applications, Apacer will continuously develop flash products with best quality and performance through continuous technology breakthroughs to meet the market demand for higher-density mobile storage. Currently, Apacer’s MMC cards are available in capacities of 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, and now introduces 1GB and the world’s first 2GB MMC, the highest density in the world, which will be available in March 2005.
Panasonic Press Release: Panasonic, the leading brand by which Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. is known today, announced that it will expand its “HIGH SPEED Series” SD Memory Card line up by introducing the “HIGH SPEED” 256MB SD Memory Card with up to 2MB/s data transfer speed this April.
Panasonic “HIGH SPEED Series” 64MB and 128MB SD Memory Cards have been already available in the market, and the company plans to introduce larger capacity “HIGH SPEED Series” SD Memory Cards later this year. The “HIGH SPEED Series” SD Memory Cards offer a data transfer speed suitable for storing still images or small-size motion pictures taken with a digital still camera (DSC) and digital video camera (DVC). Together with the current “PRO HIGH SPEED Series” SD Memory Cards (512MB & 1GB) which boast a transfer speed of up to 20MB/s and the “SUPER HIGH SPEED Series” SD Memory Card (256MB) with up to 10MB/s data transfer speed for more advanced usage such as motion picture recording or fast continuous consecutive shooting, the new “HIGH SPEED” 256MB SD Memory Card allows users to select the type of cards depending on consumers’ needs.
The new 256MB SD Memory Card is scheduled to go on sale in April in the United States, with the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of US$44.99.
New Product Feature Outline
The new affordably-priced “HIGH SPEED” 256MB SD Memory Card achieves a data transfer speed of up to 2MB/s, which is suitable for storing high resolution still images taken with a digital still camera. Additionally, its durability and reliability rival that of the “PRO HIGH SPEED” and “SUPER HIGH SPEED” models. It has the industry’s widest guaranteed operating temperature range from -25C to 85C, allowing their use in a variety of environments, from ski resorts to the tropics. All Panasonic SD Memory Cards are assembled under thorough and integrated quality control at the company’s factory in Japan.
Product Development Background
Since its introduction in 1999, the SD Memory Card has come to be used in a wide range of digital products, including digital still cameras and digital video cameras, PCs, PDAs, and cellular phones. Among these devices, DSC is the largest application for the card. The DSC market has recently seen rapid progress toward higher resolution, which has increased the size of data files and the need for the higher capacity cards. At the same time, consecutive shooting is increasing in popularity as a DSC feature. In addition, there is a growing popularity of functions to record and play back video images such as MPEG4 and MPEG2 using memory cards.
Panasonic introduced the “PRO HIGH SPEED Series” (up to 20MB/s data transfer speed) and “SUPER HIGH SPEED” (up to 10MB/s data transfer speed) SD Memory Cards in response to the demands of users who wish to utilize advanced functions such as continuous consecutive shooting or high-resolution motion picture recording.
For those who do not need such advanced functions, but only wish to take and store still images or small-size motion pictures, Panasonic has expanded the “HIGH SPEED Series” SD Memory Card line up. Panasonic anticipates further expanding the line with larger capacity cards later this year.
Specifications:
• Dimensions (W x L x T mm) - 24 x 32 x 2.1mm
• Weight - Approx. 2g
• Number of Pins - 9 (same as existing SD Memory Card)
• Data Transfer Rate - Up to 2MB/s
• Operating Voltage - 2.7 V to 3.6 V
Apple News Release: Apple(R) today updated its iPod(R) photo lineup by introducing a new slim 30GB model, holding up to 7,500 songs, for just $349 and a new 60GB model, holding up to 15,000 songs, for $449. Designed to take your entire music and photo libraries with you wherever you go, both iPod photo models feature a stunning high-resolution color screen for displaying photos and enhancing the entire iPod music experience. Both models hold up to 25,000 digital photos and will feature the ability to import photos from your digital camera via the new iPod Camera Connector for instant viewing and slide show playback on iPod photo.
“The new slim 30GB iPod photo at just $349 lets music lovers enjoy their iPod in full color, including album artwork along with their personal photo library,” said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. “And now you can import photos from your digital camera directly into iPod photo with the optional iPod Camera Connector.”
iPod photo works effortlessly with Apple's iTunes(R), providing music lovers with access to the iTunes Music Store, the number one digital music service in the world. iPod photo features Apple's patent-pending Auto-Sync which works seamlessly with iTunes to automatically download an entire digital music library onto iPod photo with just one click, keeping it up-to-date whenever iPod photo is plugged into a Mac(R) or Windows computer using FireWire(R) or USB 2.0, the standard amongst both Mac and PC users to both charge and update any iPod.
The new iPod Camera Connector is an optional accessory that enables customers to connect their digital camera to iPod photo and import their photos into the iPod. By simply connecting the iPod Camera Connector and a digital camera*, customers can easily transfer digital images to their iPod photo, providing tremendous storage space so they can take more pictures. Imported photos are immediately viewable on iPod photo's crisp color screen, and can also be brought back to iPhoto(R) on the Mac or various photo applications on the PC. The iPod Camera Connector is expected to be available in late March for $29.
Apple's iPod, the iTunes jukebox and the iTunes Music Store are leading the digital music revolution. With over 10 million iPods sold to date, the iPod is the world's most popular digital music player, and the iTunes Music Store is the number one online music store with over 70 percent market share. The new iPod photo is a member of Apple's wildly popular iPod family for both Mac and PC which includes the fourth generation iPod, the iPod mini, the iPod U2 Special Edition and iPod shuffle.
Pricing & Availability
The 30GB and 60GB models of iPod photo for Mac or Windows are available worldwide immediately for a suggested retail price of $349 (US) and $449 (US) respectively, through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. iPod photo includes earbud headphones, a USB 2.0 cable, a USB power adapter and a CD with iTunes 4.7.1 for Mac and Windows computers.
Optional accessories with the following suggested retail prices include the iPod Dock for $39 (US), in-ear headphones for $39 (US), the iPod Camera Connector for $29 (US) and FireWire cable for $19 (US). Laser engraving is available for iPod for free from the Apple Store (www.apple.com) and can include two lines of text with up to 27 characters per line.
iPod photo requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 port or FireWire**, Mac OS(R) X version 10.2.8 or 10.3.4 or later and iPhoto 4.0.3 or later; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 or FireWire port or USB 2.0 or FireWire card and Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4 or later, or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later, and Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0 or Elements 3.0 or later.
All iPods include rechargeable batteries which have a limited number of charge cycles and may eventually need to be replaced. Battery life and number of charge cycles vary by use and settings. See www.apple.com/batteries for more information. Music capacity is based on four minutes per song and 128-Kbps AAC encoding; photo capacity is based on iPod-viewable photos transferred from iTunes.
Support varies depending on make, manufacturer and model of digital camera.
Firewire options require an optional cable, sold separately.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.
PhotographyBLOG has the news that Leica are in financial trouble. Mark points to this statement from Leica:
'Following the ad hoc announcement of Leica Camera AG, Solms, of February 17, 2005, stating that the Company expects a loss of half of its registered share capital in March 2005, the banks have partially terminated their credit lines. The remaining lines still cover the current liquidity requirements. The Company’s Board of Management has entered into negotiations with the banks on a solution that will carry the Company until the time of its Extraordinary General Meeting on May 31, 2005, at which capital measures are to be proposed to the shareholders.'
Digital Camera Info has a first impressions review of the Canon PowerShot SD500 and writes - 'The 7.1-megapixel Canon PowerShot SD500 follows in the tradition of the Digital ELPH line with its compact size and stylish look. However, this model gets a slight makeover with its rounded edges. The added comfort is a welcome feature to the ELPH series, which is known for its flat, sharp surfaces. The SD500 also adds other features that are debuting in the compact line. A custom self-timer lets users choose a time delay between 1-30 seconds. A series of digital color filters, as well as color accents and even a color swap are available.'
Polaroid News Release: Polaroid Corporation announced today, the availability of Polaroid's new x530 digital camera through Circuit City's on-line store: www.CircuitCity.com and Wal-Mart's on-line store: www.walmart.com . The announcement was made at the 2005 Photo Marketing Association (PMA) International Annual Convention, Booth #3532, in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando , Florida .
The x530 will also be available in Canada, Japan, Germany and the UK by March 31, 2005 . Additional US outlets will be announced soon.
Polaroid's x530 is the first consumer digital camera to incorporate the awarding-winning three-layer Foveon X3 direct image sensor. The new X3 image sensor is the world's only image sensor which directly captures red, green, and blue light at every pixel location, and in layers similar to methods used in color film. The result is richer colors, warmer tones, and sharper images than what is available in competing products.
The x530, with its Foveon X3 direct image sensor, gives consumers a professional class digital camera with features that appeal to a wide range of photographic aptitudes. Beginning photographers will appreciate the x530's point-and-shoot usability, making it easy to take beautiful pictures using the 4.5 Megapixel image sensor, 3X optical zoom, as well as accessing the in-camera editing functions. In addition, consumers looking for advanced features can capture images in RAW “digital negative” format and use the bundled Polaroid PhotoLab software for fine tuning color, exposure and white balance.
News Release: Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the world’s leading independent memory manufacturer, today announced the further expansion of its digital media product offerings with six new products:
* MMCplus cards in 256-MB, 512-MB and 1-GB capacities
* 256-MB MultiMediaCard(TM) (MMC) card
* 1-GB Elite Pro Hi-Speed Secure Digital (SD) card
* 1-GB DataTraveler(R) USB Flash drive
Based on the high-speed MMC card format, the new MMCplus cards offer increased performance and flexibility. Perfect for data-intensive applications such as digital imaging and digital music, the new MMCplus cards feature 2.7-3.6V operation, 26 MHz clock frequency and support x1, x4 and x8 bus widths. The 256-MB, 512-MB and 1-GB MMCplus cards are shipping immediately.
Responding to the need for greater storage, Kingston increased the standard MMC cards to 256-MB, the Hi-Speed SD cards to 1-GB, and the DataTraveler to 1-GB; all are now shipping.
The launch of the new digital media supports the evolving digital market and is aligned with Kingston’s participation in the Photo Marketing Association International show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
“As more cameras, mobile phones and digital devices demand higher speed and greater capacity for their digital media, Kingston will continue to provide our customers with the latest in high-performance digital media solutions,” said Mike Kuppinger, digital media product manager, Kingston. “We targeted the launch of these six new items during PMA to demonstrate our commitment to this booming market,” added Kuppinger.
Kingston MMCplus, MMC, Hi-Speed SD and DataTraveler Products
Part Number MSRP (U.S. pricing only)
MMCplus
MMC/256+ $34.00
MMC/512+ $62.00
MMC/1GB+ $109.00
Standard MMC
MMC/256 $34.00
Hi-Speed SD
SD/1GB-S $109.00
1-GB DataTraveler
KUSBDTI/1GB $99.00
Kingston’s MMC cards and SD cards are individually tested and backed by a lifetime warranty and free technical support. Kingston DataTravelers are subjected to the same testing and come with free technical support and a five-year warranty. For more information on Kingston’s digital media products, please visit http://www.kingston.com/flash.
Corel Press Release: Corel Expands Camera Raw Support with RawShooter essentials 2005 from Pixmantec
Free Software Automates Batch Downloads, Saving Photographers Time and Money While Providing Maximum Control Over Digital Images
Corel Corporation announced that, starting today, it will offer RawShooter essentials 2005 as a free download from its website at http://www.corel.com/downloads. Developed by Denmark-based Pixmantec, RawShooter essentials 2005 enables photographers to automatically import and convert large batches of camera RAW images, saving them time and money with powerful, easy-to-use tools that previously cost hundreds of dollars. RawShooter essentials 2005 works with leading digital imaging software including Corel’s Paint Shop Pro, Paint Shop Pro Studio, Paint Shop Photo Album, and Corel PHOTO-PAINT.
Corel will present the RawShooter essentials 2005 workflow along with its newly expanded portfolio of digital photography and imaging software at PMA in Orlando from February 20- 23, 2005.
The ideal staging area for RAW format users to begin their photo projects, RawShooter essentials 2005 enables photographers of all skill levels to efficiently view, prioritize, and process large batches of camera RAW images. During the RAW conversion process, users may apply image adjustments, including color and exposure corrections, sharpening, and noise suppression. The result is a set of TIFF or JPEG files that can be easily opened in Corel’s digital photography software where more advanced image enhancements can then be performed.
In Paint Shop Pro 9, for example, users can easily apply localized color changes, crop, retouch or merge multiple photos into stunning panoramas. With Corel Painter IX, the world’s best Natural-Media painting and illustration tool, photographers can reveal new dimensions of their favorite photographs by applying unique artistic effects. Even those new to digital photography can take their converted camera RAW images and use Paint Shop Photo Album 5 to create memorable coffee table books, distinctive album pages, video CDs, slide shows, or web galleries, while easily archiving favorite collections on CD or DVD.
“Corel is committed to creating exceptional experiences for our customers,” said Michael Greenhalgh, Product Line Manager for the Paint Shop family. “In addition to delivering powerful, affordable, and easy to use software, we also provide a wide range of options for users to express their individual creativity, whether they’re brand new to digital photography or a seasoned professional. Working with Pixmantec, we are now able to provide users with a workflow solution that allows them to work more efficiently while maximizing their control over the final product.”
“Our goal in designing RawShooter essentials 2005 was to provide users with superior image quality as well as the fastest workflow
ever experienced by digital photographers shooting in camera RAW formats,” said Michael Jonsson, CTO and Chief Software Architect of Pixmantec. “Based on the initial feedback we’ve received from Paint Shop Pro users, we feel confident that we’ve met this objective.”
Added Kenneth Tang Laerke, CEO of Pixmantec: “We’re proud to be associated with Corel given its impressive track record of innovation and its credentials as one of the world’s top ten software brands.”
“I have been using RawShooter essentials 2005 exclusively for the past few months to convert my images,” said Andy Rouse, Professional Wildlife Photographer. “Only a day after returning from a recent trip, I took my initial batch of 6500 photographs and easily edited this down to just under 1000 shots. I then converted and enhanced the 182 best images using RawShooter essentials 2005. Once I’ve finished working with my photos in RawShooter essentials 2005, its easy for me to move them into a software package like Paint Shop Pro to apply additional enhancements. Combining power, ease-of-use, and versatility, these tools allow photographers like me to spend less time at the computer and more time discovering new subjects that inspire us.”
For more information on Corel Corporation or to download a free, full-featured trial version of the company’s award-winning software, please visit http://www.corel.com.
For more information on Pixmantec, please visit http://www.pixmantec.com.
Pixmantec will be demonstrating RawShooter essentials 2005 at PMA in the USA (booth 2463) and at Focus on Imaging in the UK. For further details please visit http://www.pixmantec.com where you can find a dedicated press area containing further information about Pixmantec and it’s revolutionary products. Pixmantec in brief….
Pixmantec is located in Copenhagen, Denmark. The company was founded in 2004 by Michael Jonsson and Kenneth T. Laerke.
In 2005, Pixmantec is planning to launch several digital imaging software applications on the Windows platform only split into separate product lines each supporting individual digital image file formats (JPEG / RAW Adobe DNG). The software applications are designed for both professional photographers and amateurs given the recent explosion in sales of digital cameras and associated software in both consumer sectors. The tools provided by Pixmantec for image editing are based on patent-pending proprietary technologies.
Omnivision News Release: Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:OVTI), one of the world's leading suppliers of CMOS image sensors, reported today that its OV5610 5-megapixel camera chip has achieved eight design wins in the digital still camera (DSC) and video camera markets. These design wins represent the first uses of a 5-megapixel CMOS image sensor to process both still and video images in mass market consumer devices.
The market introduction of the OV5610 last September marked the industry's first high-end CMOS sensor that competes head-to-head with similar CCD devices. Up to this point, single-chip CMOS image sensors have served the low-end DSC market, while CCD sensors have served the high-end DSC and camcorder markets. With these design wins, the OV5610 will appear in digital still, video and hybrid cameras, and personal media players.
“These design wins demonstrate that our product delivers both the still and video image quality of CCD technology while measurably reducing cost,” said Jason Liu, senior product marketing manager at OmniVision. “They also mark the emergence of CMOS as a viable high-end alternative to costly CCD technology and further reinforce OmniVision's technology leadership in the CMOS image sensor space.”
The OV5610 architecture is based around OmniPixel(TM) technology. The sensor's 2.775-micron pixels allowed OmniVision to design its 5-megapixel device with an optical format (footprint) of just 1/1.8 inches. It incorporates a 2592 x 1944 image array and an on-chip 10-bit A/D converter capable of operating at 30 frames per second (FPS) in VGA resolution. OmniVision's sensor technology utilizes advanced algorithms to cancel fixed pattern noise (FPN), eliminate smearing, drastically reduce blooming and virtually eliminate dark current.
Photography Blog reviews the Casio Exilim Pro EX-P700 digital camera and writes - 'The Casio Exilim Pro EX-P700 is an extremely well-made, intuitive and feature-rich 7 megapixel digital camera that should be on your wish-list if you are looking for a mid-sized model that doesn't sacrifice functionality for size. Image quality was very good with the ISO range and night shots being stand-out features. Casio may not be the first name that you associate with digital cameras, but they have definitely produced a very capable camera in the Casio Exilim Pro EX-P700. There are a few downsides to note, as with any camera. The LCD screen is slightly grainy, the tripod mount is very poorly positioned, and it takes 40 seconds to format a memory card.'
Graphics.com has a good tips tutorial on Eliminating Red Eye with Quick Fix In Photoshop Elements 3:
'One of the most significant improvements in Elements 3 is the way you can dramatically improve the appearance of a photo with just a click or two—even if you have no idea of what you’re doing. The Quick Fix window gathers together easy to use tools that can help you adjust the brightness and color of your photos and make them look sharper. You don’t need to understand much about what you’re doing, either. You just need to know how to click a button or slide a pointer with your mouse, and then decide whether you like the look of what you just did. If, on the other hand, you do know what you’re doing, you may still find yourself adjusting things like shadows and highlights in the Quick Fix window because it’s the only place in Elements that gives you a before-and-after view as you work. In this article, you’ll learn how to use all the tools available to you in the Quick Fix window. You’ll also learn about what order to apply the fixes so you get the most out of all the tools.'
Lexar News Release: Lexar's Platinum Series Flash Memory Cards Provide Consumers with High-Speed Performance and Superior Reliability
Complete Platinum Series of Cards Now Speed-Rated at 40X, Including Memory Stick PRO and Secure Digital (SD) Formats
Lexar Media, Inc., a world leader in advanced digital media technologies, today announced that the company's full line of Platinum Series flash memory cards are speed-rated at 40X, equivalent to a minimum sustained data read and write speed capability of 6MB per second, and provide consumers with superior performance. Available in recently updated, contemporary packaging designed to drive consumer interest at retail sales locations worldwide, Lexar's Platinum Series now includes Memory Stick PRO and Secure Digital (SD) flash media formats as well as CompactFlash.
"Our Platinum Series is perfect for many new digital cameras that capture video in addition to traditional still images," said Dave Klenske, director of product marketing, Lexar. "The Lexar Platinum cards can keep up with a camera's video record mode and the benefit to the consumer is that he or she can keep capturing content. We're in lock-step with the consumer market by widening the family to include speed-rated Memory Stick PRO and SD, and both popular formats nicely complement our existing CompactFlash cards."
Lexar's Platinum Series products are now available in redesigned product packaging, including new flash memory card boxes and card labels. The new packaging has an appealing, highly visual look and feel that is consistent with Lexar's new corporate identity, and will stand out in retail environments. In addition to clearly communicating the media card format, the new packaging offers a highly visible solution for identifying varying memory card capacities.
Lexar's Platinum Series includes a wide variety of flash memory card formats, including CompactFlash, Secure Digital (SD) and Memory Stick. All flash memory cards are available in capacities of 256 MB, 512MB and 1GB.
Lexar's Platinum Series products include a limited lifetime warranty.
Lexar defines "X" within its speed-rating system as equivalent to a minimum write speed capability of 150 kilobytes per second.
It comes with 20 megabytes of internal memory, Wi-Fi ( IEEE 802.11b/g - the feature of the season it seems) and the new PictMotion function which allows slide shows to be made out of favorite pictures, music and movie files.
The Nikon Coolpix S6 measures 100.5 x 60 x 21 mm and weights 140 grams.
Expect to see it store mid March for a price of �349.99.
Compare prices on the Nikon Coolpix S6 and get the latest price on the Nikon Coolpix S6 at Amazon
Both the COOLPIX S5 and S6 offer a 1/2.5-inch CCD and 6.0 effective megapixel resolution to produce images that stay sharp even when significantly enlarged. They also feature a high-quality 3x Zoom-Nikkor ED lens with a range of 35-105mm (35mm equivalent) that gives the photographer the flexibility to zoom out for beautiful landscapes, zoom in for tightly-composed portraits, and enjoy macro photography from as close as 4cm.
Both the COOLPIX S5 and S6 have been specially designed to be visually appealing as well as easy to use. The eye-catching wave-surface designs are more than just about great styling - their thin, compact dimensions and form make the COOLPIX S5 and S6 really comfortable to hold.
The COOLPIX S5 and S6 feature a new rotary multi-selector that allows fast circular scrolling for speedy image browsing at up to 10 frames per second, a range of buttons that further simplify operation and an on-screen icon with a cursor that tracks circular scrolling, making it easy to select desired features. Furthermore, users can select functions by name or icon according to their personal preference, and all menus and icons have been made easier on the eye with a new colour scheme and optimised icon dimensions.
The COOLPIX S5 and S6 also boast a new one-touch portrait button, conveniently located at the top of the camera body, making it much simpler to take better quality pictures by offering easy access to Nikon�s unique Face-priority AF, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix and D-Lighting functions. With Face-priority AF*, the camera can automatically detect people�s faces in the frame, no matter where they are located, to produce sharply focused portraits.
In-Camera Red-Eye Fix detects the unfortunate red-eye effect that can sometimes happen in flash photography, automatically compensating for it in-camera to produce more pleasing results. D-Lighting (available in playback mode) enables users to improve images that are underexposed or taken with too much back light � creating a copy of the image with light and detail added where necessary while leaving the well-exposed parts exactly the way they were.
The COOLPIX S6 delivers the additional advantage of Wi-Fi capability. Offering IEEE 802.11b/g support, it allows users to send images wirelessly to a computer as soon as they are taken or to transfer in one go all images stored in memory to a computer. The COOLPIX S6 also supports cable-free printing**, enabling images to be sent directly to PictBridge-compatible printers without the need to use a computer .
A selection of 15 Scene modes � 4 with scene assist � allows COOLPIX S5 and S6 users to achieve satisfying results, aided by clear focus and optimal exposure in diverse situations. All the user has to do is select the most appropriate scene mode and compose the shot, leaving the camera to automatically select the best settings.
Three movie modes with sound are also available for capturing action at up to 30 frames per second. Both cameras also feature �Time-lapse� movie shooting capability that allows dramatic results to be created out of slow-moving action..
The COOLPIX S5 and S6 help speed up the user�s search for recorded images thanks to a calendar function that automatically sorts images according to the date they were taken. For further versatility, the COOLPIX S5 and S6 come complete with the COOL-STATION MV-14 and MV-15 respectively, to allow batteries to be recharged while they are still in the camera. They also offer USB connectivity and can even be hooked up for TV display.
Finally the COOLPIX S5 and S6 come bundled with Nikon�s complimentary PictureProject software and an easy-to-use wireless camera setup utility which employs a simple wizard to configure the camera for wireless operation. The beauty of PictureProject is that it makes editing pictures, organising shots and sharing images remarkably simple, while a range of available plug-ins lets users extend capabilities as they like.
* Face recognition capability may be limited in some shooting conditions.
** Requires optionally available Wireless Printer Adapter PD-10.
Sales release schedule: This camera is scheduled for release in February 2006.
Note: Specifications, design, product name, standard accessories, and release schedule may differ by country or area.
Nikon COOLPIX S5/S6 Feature Highlights
Pictmotion with high-quality music
Nikon�s new Pictmotion is much more than a simple slideshow function. Available on both the COOLPIX S5 and COOLPIX S6, it allows you to select your favorite images and movie files, then pick a style and add a music file of your choice from among 5 pre-installed ones, or load your own choice of music* to suit the images. The COOLPIX S5 and S6 then automatically analyse each element to produce an entertaining show with pace and transitions determined by music and style for in-camera viewing anywhere on the generous LCD which has an impressive 170� viewing angle that makes it easy for everyone to see. Furthermore, to heighten enjoyment of audio elements, both cameras also feature a large speaker that delivers heightened sound pressure and a sampling frequency which is increased from 8 to 22kHz * Via PictureProject for Windows only.
Eye-catching wave-surface design
Both the COOLPIX S5 and S6 have been created with a unique wave-surface design that is both esthetically appealing and very comfortable in the hand. They are also available in an attractive range of colours (availability may vary by country or region), with each exterior combining a range of attractive textures comprising a high-grade glossy main aluminum body with elements of protective acrylic, resilient stainless steel and silicone paneling.
Large LCDs
The COOLPIX S5 and S6 feature large 2.5-inch and 3.0-inch 230,000-dot TFT LCDs respectively. Such generous size does away with the need for a viewfinder and makes for easier composition. Both LCDs also offer an impressive 170� viewing angle that makes it easy for everyone to enjoy the playback of still images, movies and entertaining Pictmotion shows anywhere, at any time.
Rotary multi selector and improved GUI
Operation has been made smoother, simpler and faster. A new rotary multi selector incorporated into the camera back enables high-speed image browsing with circular scrolling action at up to 10 frames per second, while a range of buttons built into the rotary multi selector make for more intuitive operation. There�s also an on-screen icon with a cursor that tracks rotary multi selector scrolling to make function selection even simpler still. The COOLPIX S5 and S6 also feature various screens and menus created with a colour scheme that�s easier on the eye, functions can be selected by the user�s choice of name or icon, and all icons have been optimised and made clearer for easy viewing.
Built-in Wi-Fi
The COOLPIX S6 features the additional advantage of built-in Wi-Fi capability to add further enjoyment and flexibility to digital photography. Providing IEEE 802.11b/g support, it enables individual images to be wirelessly transferred to computer as soon as they�re recorded, allows all stored images to be sent to a computer simultaneously and also supports cable-free direct printing* with PictBridge-compatible printers.
* Requires optionally available Wireless Printer Adapter PD-10.
One-touch portrait functions
A standalone One-touch portrait button is conveniently located on the top of the COOLPIX S5 and S6, giving direct access to three innovative Nikon features for in-camera improvement. Face-priority AF automatically finds and then focuses on people�s faces no matter where they are in the frame for pleasingly sharp portraits time after time. In-Camera Red-Eye Fix can automatically detect the annoying red-eye effect that sometimes occurs in flash photography, then compensate for it in-camera to give natural-looking portraits. And D-Lighting can improve underexposed images or shots taken with too much back light by creating a copy with light and detail added wherever necessary and well-exposed areas kept exactly as they are.
Nikon COOLPIX S5/S6 Other Features
Highly compact dimensions of (W x H x D) S5: 93 x 59 x 20mm (3.7 x 2.3 x 0.8 in.); S6: 100.5 x 60 x 21mm (3.9 x 2.4 x 0.8 in.)
Carry-anywhere light weight (without battery and memory card): S5: Approx. 135g (4.8 oz.), S6: Approx. 140g (4.9 oz.)
S5: 21MB (approx.), S6: 20MB (approx.) of internal memory, SD Card compatibility
BSS (Best Shot Selector) identifies and saves the sharpest shot automatically from ten sequential shots
Exposure BSS automatically selects and saves the shot most closely matching user-selected criteria from five sequential shots
USB connectivity supports easy transfer of data to computers and other peripherals
Swift startup of approx. 0.8 seconds; Continuous shooting at up to 2.2fps
Date Counter visually records countdown of days to an occasion or number of days since an important event
Help Button provides easy-to-understand explanations for functions on main menu
Blur Warning informs user after shooting if an image is blurred
Menu available in a choice of 20 languages
Noise Reduction produces better results during low-light conditions
Time zone function enables the camera clock to be set to local time, anywhere in the world
4x digital zoom extends compositional freedom
Rechargeable EN-EL8 Li-ion Battery (supplied) can shoot approx. 210 shots (S5)/ 200 shots (S6) on a single charge
Field Jacket FJ-CP1 water-resistant case (optional) lets users keep the COOLPIX dry to underwater depths of 3 meters
Dock Insert PV-10/PV-11 (supplied) enable direct printing to compatible ImageLink printers
Choice of White Balance Auto with TTL control, 6-mode manual (Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Flash and White Bal. Preset)
Voice recording available for duration of up to 5 hours or until memory capacity is reached
Hardware Zone has posted a review of the Nikon Coolpix S6 where they write - 'In all, we loved the seamless wireless capability found in the S6. It delivers convenience by freeing users from having unsightly cables while providing users with another alternative to offload and share pictures. Quality wise, the S6 was able to capture still with good reproduction and image noise were mostly minimal. Night landscape shots were brilliantly captured as well with commendable color separation and low noise even at ISO 200. Slight edge softening was noticeable though.'
Steves Digicams has posted a comprehensive review of the Nikon Coolpix S6 digital camera where they write - 'Despite its small size and very large 3-inch LCD, the S6's controls are well-placed, being easy to use while not subject to accidental activation. The S6's Multi Selector was effective during playback and while navigating the menu system, able to be both rotated and used as a traditional 4-way controller. The tiny top-mounted zoom control was less effective, being too small to operate with any degree of precision. Having no optical viewfinder, the S6 includes a high quality LCD. The LCD was a very effective viewfinder indoors, intensifying the live image in dim lighting to aid in shot composition. It was less usable outdoors, lacking an anti-reflective surface that would minimize reflections and glare. It's large size allowed Nikon to provide a 25-image thumbnail review mode, useful when you need to scroll through a lot of images to find the one of interest.'DP Interface reviews the Nikon Coolpix S6 and writes - 'This camera is a great one for point-and-shoot group snaps but not at night or for sports. I would recommend the Nikon Coolpix S6 for the above use but I think the Sony T30 is a better deal. Well, in case you need built-in WiFi or like its design or whatever your reason to get the S6, but you're stuck between the Nikon Coolpix S5 and S6 - I think the Nikon Coolpix S6 is a better deal: for an additional $40, you're getting a larger LCD, WiFi and slightly better image quality at high ISOs.'
CNET reviews the Nikon Coolpix S6 and writes - 'The 6-megapixel Nikon Coolpix S6 is an overly stylish little snapshooter with nice design points, useful features, solid performance, and attractive photos. Its nifty click wheel is a great way to browse settings and pictures, but the rest of its controls are irritating and the Wi-Fi capabilities underwhelming. If you want a stylish camera, you should go with the Nikon Coolpix S5, and if you want a Wi-Fi-enabled model, you should probably wait until consumer Wi-Fi cameras develop more broadly applicable features. If you're desperate for a sleek, pretty camera you don't have to plug in to sync, the NikonCoolpix S6 could be a good choice, but the Canon PowerShot SD430 might be a better one.'
Lets Go Digital Reviews the Nikon Coolpix S6 where they write - 'The Nikon Coolpix S6 is a stylish digital camera that offers innovative image editing solutions and a new way of wireless communication. The tests to which we subjected the camera in practice helped form our final verdict. The results can be read in the following Nikon Coolpix S6 digital camera review.... I found working with the Nikon S6 digital camera an exceptionally pleasant experience. The camera truly lives up to its word; ease, excellent image quality and superb innovation packaged in a stylish design. Although the Coolpix S6 camera does leave Nikon room for improvement on a few minor points, such as adding optical image stabilisation, and extending the optical zoom range, this is something for a future generation of Coolpix S-series cameras. The Nikon Coolpix S6 is a camera for those who appreciate ease and value design, whilst keeping a keen eye on innovation. Recommended!'
DCRP reviews the Nikon Coolpix S6 and writes - 'The Coolpix S6 won't win any awards for its photo quality. While photos were well-exposed, I found colors to be oversaturated at times and just plain wrong at others (see the greenish cast in some of the sample images). Vignetting (dark corners) and blurry edges were also a problem. Despite having a fancy two-stage redeye reduction, this annoyance still popped up in our flash test. I was also disappointed with the results of our night test shot, which was soft and noisy.... Overall I was a bit disappointed with the Coolpix S6. Sure, it looks cool, and some of the features are really handy. But the bottom line is that photo quality is not as good as other ultra-compacts, and it has more flaws to boot. I'd probably skip the S6 and look at one of the cameras listed below instead.'
DIgiCam Review posts their review of the Nikon Coolpix S6 Wireless Digital Camera where they write - 'The Nikon Coolpix S6 is a very stylish, slim 6 megapixel digital camera with a 3x optical zoom lens and a huge 3" screen on the back. The digital camera is one of few to include Wi-Fi support for wireless transfer of photos. The camera has a lot of features built in that aim to produce a better image, such as Face-priority focus, D-lighting, Red-eye reduction, Blur-warning, etc. However all of this is useless if the lens isn't capable of acquiring a sharp clean image. In this case, the Nikon Coolpix S6 is noticably let down by the lens, as it produces vignetting, distortion, soft corners, and soft edges, so no matter how much post-processing goes on, the image quality will always be a weak point of this camera. Add to that, the very high red-eye in indoor photos, that isn't removed by the built in red-eye reduction, and the image quality problems start mounting up. Overall image quality is very hit and miss, one photo will come out looking great, (particularly macro photos), whereas another photo will come out looking awful (the worst photos were left out of the gallery). If image quality was up there with the rest of the cameras features and abilities then this would be recommended, however, as it stands with image quality so hit and miss, it's very difficult to recommend this camera.'
Digital Camera Info reviews the Nikon Coolpix S6 and writes - 'The Nikon Coolpix S6, with its sexy all-metal body and big screen, offers some very nice features but still has the “small camera syndrome.�? Symptoms include poor handling from overall tiny size, automatic modes, blurry pictures, a weak flash, and a body sexier than its true functionality. Indeed, the Nikon S6 has perhaps the smallest zoom control ever included on a digital camera and is sure to break thousands of fingernails. The camera is equipped with automatic modes that work well in bright lighting, but lacks the sensitivity needed to capture decent pictures in lower light: users will end up with plenty of blurry pictures if their subjects are moving. The S6’s tiny flash is powerful in the short range, but can’t reach beyond about 8.5 ft. As with many other small cameras, many pictures from the S6 had red eyes and a harsh flash – despite Nikon’s portraiture technology.'
Photography Blog has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S6 and writes, "As a camera that is good to look at, the Nikon Coolpix S6 fits the bill, but does it take good photos? Thankfully yes - on the whole pictures from this camera are well-exposed, relatively noise-free up to ISO 200, with little purple-fringing. The only flies in the ointment are blurred corners at the 35mm wide-angle focal length and poor night shots. Obviously, as the S6 is strictly a point and shoot camera, it offers very little in the way of creative controls, but it's perfectly suited to it's target audience, and even produces good photos too! If you're looking for a stylish, intuitive compact camera with the option of wireless connectivity, then make sure to take a look at the Nikon Coolpix S6."
Photoxels has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S6 Wi-Fi and writes, "Image quality at ISO 100 is very good and, to obtain the best results from this camera (including better low-light capability), I therefore recommend setting ISO 100 as your default. ... Overall, the Nikon Coolpix S6 delivers good to very good image quality in "sunny outdoors" situations but is a bit challenged in low-light situations. It does have many practical features, such as BSS, D-Lighting (see User's Experience) and Manual AF areas that help you get the most in those challenging situations."
PCMag has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S6 and writes, "When it comes to the meat and potatoes of the camera—picture quality—I was a little disappointed. In my still-life test shots, I saw some noise in the flash shot. Color accuracy and saturation were quite good, and images showed decent contrast and only a little fringing. Still, the images taken by the PowerShot SD430 were sharper and more dynamic, although the S6's flash shot had about the same coverage and evenness. The S6's resolution wasn't impressive either. In my tests, it had just 1,400 average lines of resolution, not good for a 6MP camera."
Good Gear Guide has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S6 and writes, "Nikon's Coolpix S6 is a disappointing entry into the compact camera market. While it does offer most of the features you'd expect, its pictures are below par, and struggled in our image quality tests. The biggest problem was with clarity; the CoolPix S6's pictures just weren't sharp enough. ... Our final test is for image noise, and while the CoolPix S6 did slightly better here it was still left languishing. With a score of .87% in Imatest's noise test, it exhibited some slightly visible, but not particularly problematic noise. ... Image quality aside, the CoolPix S6 is a fairly solid camera. ... Overall, the CoolPix S6 is lightweight, attractive and definitely one of the better designed compacts we've recently reviewed."
CNET has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S6 and writes, "The Nikon Coolpix S6 offers generally excellent image quality for snapshots, though critical viewers may notice vignetting and other minor flaws. Color accuracy and range are excellent, and the Coolpix S6's exposures are generally on target. Its palette is rather neutral and faithful to the scene, not oversaturated as with many other point-and-shoot cameras. The Vivid color setting gives images a little more warmth and pop but doesn't go too far. Flesh tones are warm but not ruddy, even with flash at close range, and the camera's automatic white balance is fairly accurate under most conditions."
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Pretec Press Release
PRETEC Electronics Corp., the leading company offering flash memory cards since 1993 is announcing today their 133X (20MB/sec.) secure digital (SD) card with capacities of 256MB, 512MB and 1GB at PMA (booth # 2025 & 2027) in Orlando.
Endowed with more than 2 times the access speed of current high speed SD 60X (9MB/sec), PRETEC SD 133X is now running at close to 20MB/sec allowing for a demanding new generation higher-resolution and higher-speed digital cameras and growing multimedia appliances. Implementing high speed flash algorithm controller design and “Dual Channel” technology, PRETEC SD 133X offers a 16-bit bus architecture for data transfer at an accelerated rate.
Employing the same technology, PRETEC has created and demonstrated last month at CES (Las Vegas) iDisk Tiny 166X; the smallest and highest speed flash memory card in the world, using USB interface. PRETEC SD 133X is constructed with precision mechanics offering the most reliable and secure features which provide superior durability, water resistance, anti-vibration, high pressure resistance, and provides the ultimate level of data protection to prevent user’s crucial data from being damaged or lost during device power failure.
With available speed close to 20MB/sec., PRETEC 1GB 133X SD Card can transfer 1GB of 5MP high resolution digital images in under one minute. Stored in a postage stamp-sized SD card, PRETEC SD 133X is the optimal choice for digital cameras and other handheld devices. PRETEC SD 133X’s mass production