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-- Top News Stories --

Best Digital Camera News Site
Bibble v2.5 - Fast Canon D30 RAW Decoding
Canon PowerShot A20 Review Posted
Canon Re-Posts 3.6.1 Digicam Drivers
Canon S600 Bubble Jet Printer
Canon Spring Promotions
Casio QV-3500EX Review Posted
DigiSnap 2000 Now Available
Epson Stylus Photo 785EPX
Epson Stylus Pro 10000 Wide Format
Epson Files Law Suit Against Cartridge Maker
Fuji FinePix 6800/2300 Now Available
Iomega Settles Zip Drive Lawsuit
Kodak Acquires Ofoto.com
Kodak EasyShare & DX3500/DX3600 Digicams
Kodak Revamps Picture CD Format
Kodak Announces Price for DCS 760
Kodak Thermal Printer "Trade-Up" Program
Nikon Announces Coolpix 775
Nikon Announces Coolpix 995
Nikon Coolpix 995 Review Posted
Olympus Cuts Production of Low-End Digicams
Olympus to market $1600 SLR in 2002
PhotoStreak - Free Image Compressor
Qimage Pro - Major D1 NEF Update
Qimage Pro Supports ORF Format
Rods and Cones ICC Color Training CD
SB-29 Adapter for Coolpix 950/990
Sony Expands Memory Stick Line
Sony Lowers Price on DSC-P30 and P50
Sony DCR-PC9 MiniDV Camcorder


Read the news from:
PMA 2001 Convention





04-30-2001

Kodak to Acquire Leading Online Photo Service Ofoto

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 30, 2001--Eastman Kodak Company announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Emeryville, Calif.- based, Ofoto, Inc. (www.ofoto.com), a leading online photography service. Ofoto will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Kodak and will be led by its existing management team, which will report to Willy Shih, president of Kodak's Digital and Applied Imaging unit.

Ofoto will serve as a critical connection between Kodak's film scanning and uploading services and Kodak's output capabilities through labs operated by its Qualex Inc. subsidiary. These capabilities will give customers and consumers unlimited flexibility in storing, sharing, enhancing and printing pictures.

Founded in 1999, Ofoto has 1.2 million registered members. The company offers digital processing of digital images and traditional film, top-quality prints, private online image storage, sharing, editing and creative tools, frames, cards and other merchandise. Ofoto employs 121 people, all based in Emeryville. In a recent report on online photo sharing and photofinishing, ARS, Inc., a business-to-business market intelligence company, ranked Ofoto as the leading online service. Ofoto led in three of the four categories: Ease of Use, Service and Price Competitiveness.

"The acquisition enhances our leadership in the growing market for online photo services. By combining Kodak's and Ofoto's technology, marketing and distribution assets, we will be able to deliver the most comprehensive, easy-to-use online photography services to customers and consumers," said Shih. "This will accelerate Kodak's growth and drive more rapid adoption of online photography."

"Kodak gives us the resources we need to grow Ofoto beyond where it is today and make online photography a mass-market service," said James Joaquin, CEO of Ofoto. "We believe that this acquisition enables us to deliver a more complete service."

Ofoto, together with Kodak's PictureVision subsidiary and kodak.com, will be the cornerstone of Kodak's Internet imaging infrastructure and service offerings. These assets are part of a complete online photography experience--from capture devices and film scanning and storage infrastructure to online services and output media.

Kodak will drive market growth by integrating Ofoto's Web site, infrastructure, e-commerce capabilities and quality digital printing expertise with Kodak's film-scanning infrastructure and network services and Qualex's output capabilities. The company's Web-based applications featured on kodak.com and its established distribution channels will bring more innovative services to the market.

"We anticipate bringing Ofoto's capabilities to our retail customers as soon as possible through the Kodak Picture Center online initiative," said Daniel Palumbo, president, Consumer Imaging, and senior vice president, Eastman Kodak Company. "Combining Ofoto's capabilities with the existing service will provide our retail customers with even richer features and more ways to generate revenue."




04-30-2001

Red River Paper - New Professional Series Gloss and Satin Papers and Inkjet Sample Kits

NEW Red River Professional Series Ink Jet Gloss And Satin Finish Papers. Take your digital images to a new higher level of excellence. These microporous resin coated papers represent state-of-the-art technological advances that result in superb color reproduction. UltraPro Satin looks and feels like real "E-Surface" photographic paper.

Red River encourages you to try before you buy. With so many inkjet papers available, we want to convince you ours is the best. Red River offers over 30 different outstanding inkjet papers for photographic reproduction. Our papers are compatible with all inkjet printers. Huge variety of cut sizes and rolls.

Go to www.redrivercatalog.com and click on the sample kit button at the top of the page. Choose from 4 different Sample Kits: Photographer's, Fine Artist's or Combo. A folder and envelope sampler is also available.




04-30-2001

Study Shows Photo Kiosks And Digital Minilabs Fuel Digital Photography

A new report, "Retail Digital Photofinishing Market Outlook," by InfoTrends Research Group, Boston, Mass., USA, shows photo kiosks and digital minilab services are growing in use and popularity with consumers.

"Our research shows that photo kiosk usage is growing," said Kerry Flatley, research analyst for InfoTrends Research Group. "Awareness and usage are still low, with less than 20 percent of U.S. households having used a photo kiosk, but satisfaction among users is relatively high, providing opportunity for much growth. The installed base of photo kiosks in North America is projected to grow from around 26,000 in 2000 to almost 150,000 by 2006."

Most consumers today use photo kiosks for making reprints (72 percent) or enlargements (64 percent) from their snapshots. They are attracted to the convenience and customization offered by kiosks, compared to the traditional approach of handling negatives and waiting days for the results. Now new features and functions are being introduced into kiosks, boosting other uses. New features include photo kiosks aimed specifically at digital camera users who want immediate prints; kiosks that accept credit cards, and thus can be located virtually anywhere; kiosks that use alternative types of print engines such as inkjet; and kiosks that have no print engines, but send photos directly to the Web or to a remote high speed print engine, such as a digital minilab. The report profiles key players such as Agfa, Digital Portal, Fujifilm, Gretag/Seiko Epson, Kodak, Konica, Pixel Magic, Sony, and Xerox.

The digital minilab market is also detailed in the report. "Digital minilabs offer many advantages over analog, and are forecast to rapidly replace analog labs, growing from just 4 percent penetration in 2000 to about 70 percent penetration by 2006," said Flatley. "The market leader, Fujifilm, will be challenged in coming years by vendors like Agfa, Konica, Gretag, Indigo, Kodak, Noritsu, Photo-Me, and Phogenix."

A third type of retail digital photofinishing solution, digital "bridge" solutions, is also detailed in the report. These are photo workstations that allow retailers to provide digital services, such as photo CDs, without investing in fully digital labs.

The report outlines the impact of these digital photofinishing solutions in retail environments. Today, they primarily serve film users, but digital camera users seeking simple one-hour processing will make up an increasingly significant part of their base, the report says.




04-30-2001

Fuji Sets Up Joint Venture To Produce Digital Cameras In China

Fuji Photo Film Co., Tokyo, Japan, set up a joint venture in Suzhou, China, with a local corporate group of machinery makers and distributors to manufacture digital cameras and market them in China, JPEA Photo Electro News reported. The new firm, Fujifilm Digital Imaging Products (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., will begin producing digital cameras in June at the rate of 10,000 units per month initially. Key components such as CCD imagers will be imported from Japan for the production of mid-grade 1- to 2-megapixel cameras to be sold under the Fuji name. Fuji, which holds a 70 percent stake in the new firm, appointed Tsunehiko Sato to head it.




04-29-2001

Canon EOS ELAN 7/7E ReviewPosted

I've just posted our second film camera review, this time it's the Canon EOS ELAN 7/7E SLR. To quote Gregg:

    "Canon has done a very good job on this camera. I believe it is one worth the investment due to its ergonomic, useable and durable design. It is a system you can own for a long time to come."



04-28-2001

Casio QV-3500EX Review Posted

Casio QV-3500EX

Casio has produced another winner here, the QV-3500EX is a top of the line 3-megapixel camera with all the features needed to make novice and experienced users happy. The QV-3500EX Plus bundle with the 340MB Microdrive is very competitively priced and gives you enough image storage for extended vacations. The new Best-Shot mode is very interesting as well as configurable and should make better photographers out of us all. Check out all of the features in my Casio QV-3500EX review.



04-28-2001

ShortCourses Now Offers Color eBooks

Over the past two years we've turned many people on to the books offered by our good friend Dennis Curtin who runs the ShortCourses.com web site. His books are much better than the manuals that come with the cameras as they not only explain their operation but also give you plenty of hints and tips to get better photographs with the cameras.

To keep the cost reasonable he has always had the books printed in black and white as color publishing is rediculously expensive. To make this information available in color and still keep it affordable Dennis has launched a new series of ebooks on CD done in Adobe's PDF format.

Four ebooks are now available. A general description of the ebook program can be found HERE.

The first ebooks being announced can be found at:

Canon PowerShot S300

Using Your Digital Cameras

Over the next few days we'll also be listing ebooks for the Olympus C-3040 and C-2040. All ebooks also have trial versions of a number of my favorite programs and camera-specific guides also have "pocket guides" that can be displayed on screen or printed as a booklet. The books themselves are in both low-res screen versions and hi-res versions for printing.



04-28-2001

Eric's DigiPhoto Adventure To The Reef Paradise of Palau

Eric Cheng who has given us some brilliant insights into Nikon cameras and infrared has just returned from a trip where he used a Coolpix 990 and Ikelite housing to take underwater photographs. Besides the great U/W pics he has also put together a photo essay of his trip, the places he went and the people he met there. I just spent a good half an hour virtually cruising and perusing his photos and text and enjoyed it tremendously.

Jellyfish Lake

There are roughly 300 photos on his site, and a page devoted to the setup that he used:

Eric's Palau Adventure





04-27-2001

Pictographics Announces iCorrect Professional Color Correction Software

April 27, 2001 - Burnsville, Minnesota - Pictographics International Corporation, a leading provider of digital color technology, has released iCorrect Professional, a color correction plug-in for Adobe Photoshop® and other popular photo editing packages.

"A breakthrough in color technology, iCorrect quickly and easily solves a major problem of digital photography-accurate color capture." according to Wayne R. Huelskoetter, Pictographics president. Developed for professional photographers and other professionals who work with digital images, iCorrect makes color correction easy. With just one or two clicks of the mouse, iCorrect quickly makes global corrections to tonal ranges, colorcast, and other reference colors including skin tones, foliage green, and sky blue. These global corrections are based on sophisticated mathematical functions that instantly adjust the colors within the defined color space and make them right. The skin tone feature, for example, contains powerful race-independent color models that accurately portray a wide range of human skin colors. To the user, however, the complexities of these revolutionary techniques remain behind the scenes. Just a click and it's done.

iCorrect Professional also provides users the ability to define their own reference colors so they can easily get the exact intensity and hue they want on objects like a company logo, fashion article, product label or portrait background. Other features of the software make it easy to adjust brightness or contrast, choose a new palette or even import a color definition from another image or measurement file. What this impressive array of features adds up to, emphasizes Huelskoetter, is a software package that makes it much easier for the digital imaging professional to "Make the Color Right"T.

"iCorrect eliminates the frustrating trial and error editing tools like curves, sliders, and variations common to most color editing software," according to Huelskoetter, "thus saving the professionals time and frustration as they realize their creative vision of what the photo should be." An added benefit of iCorrect is that the corrected image is transformed (or profiled) into a calibrated, reference color space for use in a managed color environment.

The new plug-in works equally well on images of any origin and is ideal for stock photos, scanned images, Internet images, and legacy archives, as well as original photography. iCorrect Professional is available for Macintosh and Windows for $139.00 at www.picto.com. A free demonstration version is also available.




04-27-2001

Andromeda Launches Its New PERSPECTIVE Plug-In for PhotoShop

Westlake Village, CA – Andromeda Software Inc. today announced the release of the new Perspective Filter, a new multi-platform, Adobe Photoshop compatible plug-in. More information is available at company site www.andromeda.com.

A photograph is a flat image (2D) with height and width but no depth. Perspective Filter can be used to suggest or introduce the third dimension, depth, experienced in human vision.

Andromeda Perspective Filter is unique in that it uses a camera paradigm to introduce depth or perspective. The user interface provides a dynamic visual interface, which inspires creative use. The introduction of this new plug-in continues Andromeda’s commitment to provide innovative plug-ins that are distinctive and beneficial.

A "virtual camera" navigational tool in the Perspective offers a "tilt" and "swing" motion. The "tilt" movement permits depth-of-field control of the image plane. Moving the virtual camera right to left while focused on a stationary position accomplishes the "swing". The Perspective zoom function also gives the effect of a dolly, in which the camera moves closer to or away from the image. For those looking for a quick and intuitive perspective tool, Perspective is the one.

Perspective positions itself as the newest addition to Andromeda’s Photographic Tools and Lens Effects along with the Series 1 Photography Filters, LensDoc, and VariFocus. Perspective differs from our LensDoc Filter in that LensDoc fixes whereas Perspectives introduces (perspective).

Perspective offers the following advantages over other perspective functions available in image editing programs:

  • A "virtual" camera in 3D space
  • View and manipulate your image through our "lens".
  • Introduce consistent perspective in multiple images.
  • Introduce consistent perspective in string of text characters.
  • Factory preset library with visual display.
  • Users can save presets with descriptions for future use or reference.
  • 360 degree rotation of images in any direction.
  • The ability to zoom in and out of an image with ease.

Digital download versions will be available May 3, 2001 through, www.andromeda.com.




04-27-2001

Phase One A/S to Use Kodak's 16-Megapixel CCD in LightPhase H20 Digital Camera Back

ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 27, 2001 - Eastman Kodak Company today announced that Phase One A/S, a world leader in Direct Digital Imaging, has selected Kodak's KAF-16801CE 16-megapixel CCD image sensor for use in its upcoming LightPhase H20 digital camera back. This design win highlights Kodak's strategy to aggressively market its world-class image sensor technology directly to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for use in imaging markets worldwide in addition to use within other Kodak business units. Kodak offers these products through the company's Image Sensor Solution division (ISS).

The Phase One LightPhase H20 is a high resolution, 16-million pixel single shot direct digital imaging system designed for use in high-end professional imaging applications with a need for productivity, flexibility, and superior image quality. As a member of the family of LightPhase products, the LightPhase H20 integrates seamlessly into the LightPhase workflow used daily by thousands of studio photographers worldwide. For more information on Phase One and the LightPhase family of products visit www.phaseone.com.

The KAF-16801 is designed to meet the demanding requirements of the studio and high-end digital camera marketplace. Its 16.6 million (4080 x 4080) pixel array represents an unprecedented leap in CCD resolution. The device incorporates a 9 micron pixel architecture with integral color filter array and is packaged in a 34-pin DIP ceramic package. Studio photographers in the professional market demand uncompromising image quality. The KAF-16801CE, with its ultra-high resolution and large pixel size, meets their requirements by providing superior dynamic range and low noise. The result is stunning digital images with exceptional sharpness.

For more information Kodak's sensor products, visit the Image Sensor Solutions web site at www.kodak.com/go/ccd or contact us by phone at 716-722-4385 or by email at ccd@kodak.com.




04-27-2001

Olympus To Market Interchangeable Lens SLR For Less Than $2000 Using Kodak CCD

Kodak KAF-5100CE CCD

We received an email last night from Kumio Yamada who runs the digitalcamera.gr.jp web site. He said that Mr. Kojima of Olympus announced at Kodak e-Revolution2001 that they would be building a digital SLR with interchangeable lenses based around the Kodak 4/3-inch 5-megapixel KAF-5100CE imager. The most intriguing part of this news was the price, 200,000 Yen which is roughly $1636USD for the body and a lens. Olympus would be making a selection of five lenses available for the new camera. The official announcement of the new camera will come at PMA 2002 in February with the sale to commence by autumn, just in time for Photokina. Olympus is also developing a "mass power supply", a "grip system", "a mass storage system (optical magnetism type)", a "macroscopic system" and the camera may also support the new Bluetooth wireless standard.

Needless to say that we will stay on top of this story and we'll be looking for future information as we get closer to PMA 2002.




04-26-2001

Sony Packs Extra Power And More Features Into New Ultra-Portable DCR-PC9 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder

Sony DCR-PC9

SAN DIEGO, April 26, 2001 - Sony Electronics today introduced the DCR-PC9 Mini DV Handycam camcorder that combines expanded battery capacity, MPEG movie capability and USB connectivity, while maintaining the diminutive form factor of its forerunner, the award-winning DCR-PC5 model. Weighing in at only 1 pound and 1 ounce, the new DCR-PC9 still packs a powerful punch with a 10x optical/120x-digital zoom and a ¼-inch, 680K pixel CCD imager.

The lightweight PC9 Mini DV Handycam camcorder offers stunning digital video quality and digital still capture to Memory Stick media. Additionally, the new camcorder features Carl Zeiss optics, a precision color viewfinder and a 2.5" Precision SwivelScreen LCD display with Touchscreen controls all in one tiny package. The supplied "M" series InfoLithium battery on the DCR-PC9 increases battery life more than 30 percent over last year's DCR-PC5 model. With this increased power, users can shoot up to 115 minutes of action and the AccuPower meter conveniently indicates the remaining minutes of battery life on the LCD display.

MPEG Movie mode allows the capture of up to 60 seconds of video and audio in the Video E-mail mode (160 x 112 resolution), or up to 15 seconds in the Presentation mode (320 x 240 resolution) onto Memory Stick media. These "mini-movies" are ideal video resolutions for attaching to e-mails, inserting into Web pages and including in presentation materials. Users can conveniently convert up to 60 seconds of recorded videotape and convert it to an MPEG movie right in camera or shoot an MPEG movie at the spur of the moment "on location".

To make the transfer of MPEG movies and still images from your Memory Stick media to your compatible PC even faster and easier, the new camcorder incorporates a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector. With the supplied USB cable, the DCR-PC9 can transport still images and MPEG video to a compatible PC up to twenty times faster than camcorders with only a serial interface.

Additionally, with Sony's ImageStation.comSM USB Direct Connect software, users can upload video clips to Sony's online photo sharing service straight from the USB-equipped DCR-PC9 in just two mouse-clicks. The software is available free of charge and requires a one-time installation to a home PC.

As a further advantage, Sony supplies MGI PhotoSuite and MGI VideoWave software to facilitate the transfer of digital still images and MPEG movies from the camcorder to a PC. With this software, camcorder users can also perform a variety of editing and imaging enhancements, including color alteration, drawing and more.

Worry-Free Recording and Performance Features

  • Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar Lens -- Carl Zeiss lens have an advanced optical multi-layer coating offering less glare and flare with increased contrast. This results in vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation, and perfect renditions of subtle tones.

  • 2.5" Precision SwivelScreen LCD Display -- The LCD display provides for sharp and detailed images during playback or when monitoring recording. Touchscreen technology transforms the LCD into a convenient control pad. Users simply touch the appropriate button on the LCD screen to search, edit or operate any number of special effects while recording or playing back their video on the same screen.

  • Digital Program Editing - The camcorder enables 20-segment assemble editing without the need for a PC or a professional studio. This allows for a convenient, uncomplicated way to assemble up to 20 scenes automatically.

  • i.LINK Digital Video Interface - The i.LINK (IEEE 1394) DV interface allows for high speed bi-directional digital communication between two devices equipped with a similar i.LINK DV interface, including digital camcorders, digital VTRs and PCs.

  • Super SteadyShot® Picture Stabilization -- Using motion sensors to compensate for camera shake, this "Worry-Free" feature enhances video and eliminates high frequency vibration without compromising picture quality, meaning virtually no blurred images during shaky camera situations.

  • Super NightShot 0-Lux Recording system - This allows the capture of video in total darkness up to 10 feet away by using an advanced infrared system. Super NightShot recording employs an automatic slow-shutter control to deliver brighter, sharper images with more detail when shooting in the dark.
The DCR-PC9 will be available in retail stores in June for about $1,300.



04-25-2001

Nikon Coolpix 995 Review(s) Posted

Nikon Coolpix 995

You've all been waiting for it so here is my Coolpix 995 review




04-25-2001

Nikon Introduces the new Coolpix 995

Nikon Coolpix 995

MELVILLE, NY, April 25, 2001 - Nikon, the world leader in photography, today introduced the new Coolpix 995, a 3.34-megapixel CCD digital camera that builds upon the award-winning design of the Nikon Coolpix 990 to set a new standard in digital photography. The Coolpix 995 combines a pop-up flash for added shooting performance, a 4x Optical Zoom-Nikkor lens that extends picture-taking capabilities, and a host of creative controls to offer the ultimate Coolpix digital camera available today.

"With the Coolpix 995, Nikon once again raises the bar in digital photography design, control and performance," said Deborah Sauer, general manager, marketing, Nikon Consumer Digital and Compact Cameras. "When Nikon designed the Coolpix 995, we listened to user feedback to develop the perfect blend of features and superior Nikon quality and innovation. As a result, we created a digital camera that is driven by the photographer's imagination and offers the power and ease-of-use to be as creative as you want to be," Ms. Sauer added.

The Coolpix 995 incorporates a multi-mode pop-up flash into the same compact, swivel design as the Coolpix 990 and 950, for added convenience and performance when shooting from any angle. This new flash design also allows for improved Red-eye reduction when taking pictures. The camera provides increased flash power and versatility with the Multi-Flash Sync Terminal that offers the capability to work with up to five optional external Speedlight flashes. In addition, the optional Coolpix accessory lenses may be used with external Speedlights.

What makes Nikon imaging products superior to the competition are high quality optics - the Coolpix 995 continues this tradition. To get closer to the action, the camera features a 4x Optical Zoom-Nikkor lens with 38-152mm coverage (35mm equivalent), the highest zoom range in the Coolpix line. For extended zoom reach, the Coolpix 995 offers a 4x stepless Digital Zoom.

Not all subjects sit still to be photographed, so the Coolpix 995 offers high-speed full resolution image capture at three frames per second, an improved shutter speed of 1/2300 per second, and fast maximum ISO of 800 to ensure the user doesn't miss out on the moment. To make sure the photographer got the shot, there is a quick review function, plus 6x zooming playback for immediate image confirmation.

For greater creativity, as well as ease-of-use, the Coolpix 995 includes four saturation modes to allow users to create their final image in one less step. The saturation modes enable users to control color saturation based on final output goals, such as printing or uploading images straight to the Web.

The Coolpix 995 offers a host of features to give photographers the ultimate quality and creative control, while still providing easy-to-use, automatic operation. The camera includes White Balance Bracketing to guarantee proper color balance under difficult or mixed lighting conditions plus Noise Reduction mode to minimize digital artifacts and get clean and clear long exposures. Nikon's exclusive 256-element Matrix Metering and 7,123-step Multi-Area Autofocus system produces sharp and crisp images. The Coolpix 995 also offers a 50-step Manual Focus and a Manual Exposure mode for complete creative control.

To offer a complete out-of-box experience at an incredible value, the Coolpix 995 comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and charger (a $50 value), a Lexar Media 16MB USB-enabled CompactFlash Card and a USB cable for plug-and-play high-speed connectivity. The Coolpix 995 camera operates from three different power sources allowing users to choose between a rechargeable or disposable battery, or an A/C adapter. The camera also supports both CompactFlash Type I and II cards, allowing users a personal choice of storage methods.

The Coolpix 995 digital camera includes the new NikonView 4 software, which gives users ultimate control in how they save, view, store and use their digital images. For added image creativity, the camera also features a suite of software from ArcSoft including PhotoStudio 2000, VideoImpression, PhotoPrinter Pro 2000 and Panorama Maker 2000. Also included is Genuine Fractals 2.0 LE.

The Nikon Coolpix 995 will be available in June 2001 at an MSRP of $899.95.




04-25-2001

Nikon Coolpix 775 Is the First Digital Camera with "One-Touch To The Web"

Nikon Coolpix 775

MELVILLE, NY, April 25, 2001 - Nikon, the world leader in photography, today introduced the Coolpix 775, the first digital camera to feature a One-Touch button to allow users to upload digital images directly to the desktop or the Web. The ultra-compact Coolpix 775 packs a 3x zoom lens and 2.14 megapixel CCD into the lightest, pocket-sized point-and-shoot digital camera. The Coolpix 775 is perfect for capturing digital photos anywhere, anytime, quickly and easily, and packs a host of easy-to-use features in a package weighing a mere 6.5 ounces. Nikon has always been known for advancing photography - the Coolpix 775 will reinvent the way people share digital photos.

"The Nikon Coolpix 775 truly takes the guesswork out of digital photography," said Deborah Sauer, general manager, marketing, Nikon Consumer Digital Products and Compact Cameras. "Its combination of shooting modes, One-Touch to the web capability and Nikon digital image quality and design really makes digital photography easy. Whether you're a proud parent waiting to shoot a baby's first steps or a college student sharing photos of spring break with friends, the Coolpix 775 ensures you won't miss an important shot."

Sharing digital photos, emailing friends and family, printing digital photos and creating online photo albums has never been easier. The process is simple and easy: after pictures are taken, users connect the camera to a computer (with the included USB cable), press the "Transfer" button on the back of the camera, and photos can be automatically moved to the desktop or uploaded to NikonNet through NikonView software. NikonView is included with the camera and can be easily installed on any compatible computer. Once photos are uploaded to NikonNet, the user can save the images, share them via e-mail or create online photo albums.

To make sure the ideal shot was taken, the camera's quick review function allows users to view images captured on ¼ of the LCD monitor while simultaneously viewing the live action, ensuring you don't miss the next picture. With a simple turn of the Mode Dial users can get the best photo in a variety of situations by allowing the camera to automatically focus, set exposure and balance color. Users can choose from one of seven Scene Modes including party/indoor, backlight, portrait, night portrait, landscape, beach/snow and sunset mode.

To provide added shooting flexibility, the camera offers a versatile zoom range which lets users get close to the action when objects are far away or zoom out when taking group photos or shooting in close proximity. At the heart of the camera's zoom capabilities is Nikon's exclusive 3x Optical Zoom-Nikkor lens, featuring a zoom range of 38-115mm (35mm equivalent).

256-element Matrix Metering, advanced image-processing and 2.14-megapixel CCD that produces sharp and clean 8 x 10-inch pictures. The camera also offers a Movie Mode that allows users to create QVGA movies for up to 40 seconds at approximately 15 frames per second.

The Coolpix 775 digital camera includes the new NikonView 4 software, which gives users ultimate control of how they save, view, store and use their digital images. For added image creativity, the camera features an easy-to-use suite of software from ArcSoft. The Coolpix 775 also offers ArcSoft Panorama Maker 2000, which lets users easily stitch together a number of images to automatically create beautiful panoramic photographs ready to print or e-mail.

The Coolpix 775 comes with everything you need for quick and easy digital photography right in the box, offering a great overall value. In addition to the Coolpix 775 camera, users get a USB cable for plug-and play simplicity, an 8 MB Type I CompactFlash memory card and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with charger (a $50 value). Available in stores in July 2001, the Coolpix 775 has an MSRP of $449.95.




04-24-2001

Canon PowerShot A20 and CP-10 Printer Reviews Posted

Canon PowerShot A20 Zoom

I've just finished and posted both the Canon PowerShot A20 and the Canon CP-10 Card Printer reviews. This is an excellent choice for a compact and easy to use two-megapixel camera and the new CP-10 printer is as interesting as it is unique so check them out!




04-23-2001

Sony Lowers MSRP on New DSC-P30 and DSC-P50 Cameras

We just received an email from Sony's PR folks informing us that Sony is lowering the MSRP on two of the new CyberShot cameras announced at PMA 2001. The new DSC-P50 is expected to retail for around $400 instead of the originally announced $499 and the DSC-P30 will be $300 instead of $399. This lower pricing should make these cameras even more attractive to consumers looking for their first or next digicam.




04-23-2001

Kodak Simplifies Digital Photography With New EasyShare System and Two New Digital Cameras



ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 23 - Eastman Kodak Company today introduced a camera docking system, making it easier than ever for people to print and share digital pictures. Called EasyShare, the new line of cameras and docking system will set the standard for ease of use for digital photography.

The Kodak EasyShare system features a camera dock and two new digital camera models-the Kodak DX3500 Digital Camera and the Kodak DX3600 Zoom Digital Camera. The camera dock addresses two of the biggest objections to digital cameras: easy connection and battery charging. Once the camera is placed in the dock, pictures are automatically uploaded to the computer and the dock recharges the camera’s battery pack. The system also includes software that allows users to connect to the Internet to e-mail or print their pictures. EasyShare makes picture sharing as easy as picture taking: one-button simple.

Using Kodak Picture Software, the EasyShare system makes digital picture taking and sharing one-button simple. Features of the system include:

  • Fast Picture Transfer: At the touch of a button, the camera dock automatically transfers the pictures into the computer within seconds, avoiding the need to fuss with connecting cables or load memory cards into reading devices. Consumers no longer face a mystery of how to get their pictures out of the digital camera.
  • Easy Picture Sharing: The Kodak Picture Software incorporated into the EasyShare system lets you simply e-mail or print your favorite pictures. A few more clicks, and you can also edit and enhance them.
  • Simple Picture Management: The system lets you organize your pictures automatically in folders the way you want them: by date, name or event. It also lets you automatically delete all pictures on the camera after they are transferred to a computer, readying the camera for more picture taking.
  • Convenient Battery Recharging: The camera is powered and recharged in the dock in less than two and a half hours, or half the time required by competing chargers.
Two new EasyShare compatible digital cameras



The Kodak DX3500 priced at $299.95 and DX3600 Zoom priced at $399.95 are the first two models in Kodak’s line of EasyShare compatible digital cameras. With 2.2-megapixel resolution, both cameras take high quality pictures suitable for everything from e-mailing to printing 8 x 10-inch photos. The DX3500 features a 3X digital zoom, auto white balance and close-up mode that are designed to deliver better pictures.

The DX3600 Zoom, features a 6X zoom (2X optical, 3X digital), continuous digital video and sound. Both cameras offer 8MB of internal memory so your camera can capture up to 48 pictures without a CompactFlash memory card. For more pictures there is an expansion slot for removable CompactFlash memory cards. The camera dock, priced at $79.95, includes a rechargeable NiMH battery pack and AC adaptor. It connects via USB, so that it’s always ready for your camera to upload and recharge. The DX3500 and camera dock will be available worldwide in early May, the DX3600 Zoom will be available in early July.




04-20-2001

Canon Re-Posts Digicam Drivers

We reported back on 4/13/01 that Canon had pulled the new 3.6.1 drivers that had just posted for their digital cameras. The new USB and TWAIN drivers have been again posted on the Canon site for download.

Thanks to Mike from Imaging-Resource for spotting the message left on Rob Galbraith's forum from Chuck Westfall of Canon USA. Click on the link to read all of Chuck's comments about the driver update files. Briefly he said:

    "Canon Inc. has released new versions of the TWAIN Driver/Mac Plug-In software for the EOS D30. The version 3.6.1 drivers provide an option for reducing the conversion time of EOS D30 RAW images. USB TWAIN Driver 3.6.1 and Macintosh Plug-in Module 3.6.1 are the first Canon drivers to support the False Color Filter ON/OFF setting for EOS D30 RAW file conversions. This option is not yet available for ImageBrowser, ZoomBrowser EX, or the new Canon RAW Image Converter application for Windows 98/Me/2000."



04-20-2001

Nikon D1X (beta) Samples Posted

If you're eagerly awaiting the new 6-megapixel Nikon D1X pro camera then you'll probably want to take a look-see at the samples that have been recently posted. Phil at the DP Review has gathered up all of the links and put them on this page to make it easy to find them. So far the images are very impressive and the production cameras will probably have even better image quality to offer. The Japan Miscall samples are definitely the best, the album pages will take a while to load from that Japanese photo sharing site but are well worth the wait!




04-19-2001

Yahoo! Internet Life Magazine's Top "Photo Sites" Named

The folks at Yahoo! Internet Life Magazine have a section called "Gold Star Sites" and this month they have named their Top Sites related to digital photography and the winners are:

Congratulations to all the winners, their excellent sites and the services they provide to the digital camera community. And thanks to the folks at Yahoo! Internet Life for voting us the BEST News site.



04-19-2001

Callisto Releases PhotoParade Maker® for the Macintosh

Natick, Mass., April 19, 2001 -- Callisto Corporation today released PhotoParade® Maker for the Macintosh, the first Macintosh version of their innovative software that provides consumers with an effortless way to turn their digital photos into entertaining slideshows and screen savers to share with friends and family. PhotoParade combines high-quality animation, graphics, music, narration and photo titling with a user’s digital photos. PhotoParade also includes editing tools for touching up and enhancing photos.

PhotoParade’s user-friendly features make creating and sharing PhotoParade slideshows easy and intuitive. The easy-send feature lets users share their PhotoParades with anyone by simply entering the recipient’s e-mail address and clicking send. To view PhotoParades sent to them, the recipients need only the free PhotoParade Player (available for both Windows and Macintosh).

PhotoParade has a built-in screen saver feature that automatically turns any PhotoParade into a personalized screen saver. Users can display PhotoParades they have created or PhotoParades sent to them by friends and family. The wallpaper feature allows users to decorate their desktop by turning their favorite photo and caption into their wallpaper.

There are dozens of professionally designed PhotoParade themes perfect for showing off photos from vacations, weddings, holidays, the birth of a baby and other special occasions. Each unique theme has its own music, animation and art. The wide variety of themes lets users keep their PhotoParades fun and fresh.

PhotoParade for the Macintosh is available now for purchase and download directly from the PhotoParade web site. PhotoParade is sold in three theme bundles: Standard Edition, which includes 4 multi-purpose themes for $19.99, Premium Edition, which includes nine themes for $29.99, and Super Edition, which comes with 38 themes including Wedding Album, New Baby and a variety of holiday themes for $39.99. PhotoParade for the Macintosh requires Mac OS 8.6 or later and a PowerPC processor-based Macintosh. PhotoParade Player is available for both Windows and Macintosh and is available as a free download.




04-19-2001

e-Sim and Nikon Reach Groundbreaking Agreement

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 18, 2001-- Nikon Inc. signs agreement to become first digital imaging company to utilize LiveManuals Simulations. e-SIM, the leader in advanced simulation technology for product development, customer support and internet applications, and nikon inc., the world leader in 35mm and digital imaging technology, today announced an agreement to develop functional, interactive livemanuals simulations and manuals for Nikon's digital and SLR camera models. Nikon, already a forerunner in digital imaging, becomes the first in its industry to provide product simulation capabilities, available online, to augment its customer service and sales offerings. Nikon will also be the first customer to receive e-SIM's new plug-in-less simulations.

Under the terms of the agreement, Nikon will utilize e-SIM's proprietary simular technology to enhance its customer service and sales support through the creation of interactive electronic product simulations and manuals. The product simulations will give consumers the ability to try out and interactively experience the cameras -as well as use the experience to fully understand the many features of each of the models

e-SIM and Nikon will also initiate a branded marketing program where the LiveManuals brand will be featured on Nikon product packaging covered under the agreement. The featured logos alert consumers and retailers to the operational support enhancements accompanying the Nikon products.

"This agreement marks the first time a digital imaging company will implement our technology and we are proud to partner with an industry leader such as Nikon," said Bill Sims, president of the LiveProducts division of e-SIM. "Nikon has continually set the standard for technological innovation in its product line and for high-quality customer service, both of which are further supported by use of e- SIM's technology. Our solution strengthens Nikon's brand recognition, enhances customer support and reduces costs. It's a perfect fit!"

"We're using product simulations to improve our ongoing customer relationships by providing a unique way to educate our audience about the newest and latest innovations," said Jerry Grossman, Vice President of Internet Development at Nikon Inc. "At Nikon we pride ourselves on the ability to blend technology into every facet of our business, from product lines and marketing to customer relationship management."

e-SIM's simulations of the Nikon cameras will be found on Nikon's USA- based site as well as on www.livemanuals.com.




04-18-2001

Epson Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Prominent Replacement Cartridge Manufacturer

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2001--Epson has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Portland, Ore., against PrintRite Holdings Ltd. of Hong Kong and Dynamic Print USA Inc., its U.S. sales subsidiary.

The lawsuit by Seiko Epson Corp., Epson Portland Inc. and Epson America Inc. alleges that replacement ink jet cartridges for Epson Stylus printers manufactured by PrintRite in China and distributed in the United States under the PrintRite and other brand names infringe numerous Epson patents.

According to Rajeev Mishra, Epson America's Group Manager of Supplies Marketing: "Epson was forced to take this action to protect the company from unfair competition through the continued sales of cartridges that are infringing copies of Epson's patented ink cartridges. Epson has made huge investments in R&D and manufacturing in the United States and elsewhere to produce high quality, patented ink cartridges. This lawsuit is part of Epson's worldwide effort to protect the company and its customers from unfair competition of all sorts, including the sale of patent-infringing ink cartridges under third-party brands, as in this case, and the sale of outright counterfeit ink cartridges sold under the Epson brand, in other cases."


(This probably means that you better go over to eBay now and grab up a bunch of those Epson-compatible cartridges for your printer before they vanish forever.)




04-18-2001

SanDisk Unveils New Web Site to Showcase Products; Site Focuses On Flash Education

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2001--SanDisk Corporation today unveiled its new corporate web site to showcase its products. The new site emphasizes a user-friendly design, which makes learning about flash cards -- and the products that use flash cards -- simple and straightforward.

Nelson Chan, SanDisk's senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing said, "Flash cards are now well past the early adopter stage as hundreds of portable, electronic products that use SanDisk flash memory cards have been introduced. Our new web site is designed to inform potential customers with very little technical expertise about these various products and which of our cards works best with the devices. The increased affordability and ease of use of handheld computers, digital cameras, cell phones, digital camcorders and Internet music players that all use SanDisk's flash memory cards have pushed these products into the mainstream."

Judy Hoffmann, marketing communications manager at SanDisk, said, "Our new site is designed to be an online information source for not only the SanDisk product line, but the entire flash card industry. The structure will provide consumers a timesaving way to efficiently gather information. Our first web site was originally designed primarily for our OEM partners with the structure and content very technically based. Our new web site is easier to use and makes it simple to gather information regardless of the user's knowledge about the flash card industry."

SanDisk's web/site/home page address is www.sandisk.com. SanDisk flash memory cards and card readers also can be purchased from SanDisk by accessing the company's on-line store.




04-18-2001

Rods and Cones Launches a New Training CD That Deciphers the Mystery of ICC Color Management

SANTA CRUZ, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2001-- Rods and Cones, a leader in color management services, announced today a new, unique training CD, Profile Toolbox, Photoshop 6.

With this CD, color-critical Photoshop users will understand how to apply ICC profiles, how to prepare files for print and for the Web, and how to optimize Photoshop's vast color management features. The CD, developed using Final Cut Pro, introduces viewers to the basics of color management. Because color management begins with an accurate monitor, this versatile CD explains, step by step, how to profile a monitor using today's best-selling monitor profiling package, Color Vision's Photocal/Spyder.

Other features include an introduction to the technology of color management, an explanation of what ICC profiles are, how to set up color management preferences in Photoshop, softproofing for print and for Web, optimal settings for printers (featuring an Epson with and without RIP).

The good news is that it is inexpensive. Alone, it will sell for $55. It will also be offered with Color Vision's Photocal/Spyder at $269.

Color management has been a critical issue for designers, advertisers and photographers. Until recently, color management was technically difficult and very expensive. Since 1996, Rods and Cones has provided customized installations, leaving their customers with predictable and accurate colors from scanner and digital camera, to monitor and finally to printers, presses and online.




04-17-2001

Epson Introduces New Epson Stylus Photo 785EPX with PRINT Image Matching Technology

LONG BEACH, Calif., April 16, 2001 - Epson America Inc. today announced the EPSON Stylus Photo 785EPX ink jet printer. Developed for digital camera owners, this new printer delivers convenient photo printing with and without a computer, compatibility with popular digital camera memory cards and Epson's patented BorderFree photo printing. The EPSON Stylus Photo 785EPX is Epson's first printer to include PRINT Image Matching, a breakthrough technology that ensures digital cameras and printers work perfectly together to produce the best possible prints.

The EPSON Stylus Photo 785EPX features up to 2880 x 720 dpi and Epson's Advanced Micro Piezo ink jet technology, a six-color photo ink system creating incredible detail, beautiful skin tones, sharper contrast and an ultra-wide color range designed ideally for photography. This printer also offers four-picoliter droplets, delivering the best in virtually continuous tone quality for prints that appear indistinguishable from traditional photos.

Specially designed for digital photographers, the EPSON Stylus Photo 785EPX includes a built-in PC card slot that makes the printer compatible with virtually any digital camera by using the appropriate memory card adapter. Compatible digital camera memory types include CompactFlash(tm) Type I and II, IBM Microdrive, Memory Stick, Secure Digital and SmartMedia. The printer comes standard with a CompactFlash Type I adapter that can be exchanged through Epson for either a Memory Stick or SmartMedia adapter.

The built-in PC card slot makes it possible for digital camera owners to print photos without a computer. It also acts as a card reader when connected to a Windows or Macintosh computer system to copy and save images to the computer hard drive for organizing, editing and archiving images.

The EPSON Stylus Photo 785EPX's control panel allows customers to make selections such as paper type, paper size and number of copies without having to use a computer. The printer's innovative control panel provides the flexibility to choose from five paper types and sizes, six page layouts, various frames for sticker printing and a choice of quality settings. Images can also be easily enhanced without a computer by utilizing settings such as brightness and sharpness, as well as monochrome and sepia tones.

For viewing photos, the $99 optional 1.6" color Preview Monitor attaches to the printer enabling customers to review and select images for printing. This high-quality monitor includes a screen saver function, a brightness adjustment knob and a tilt mechanism for easy viewing of images.

With its built-in USB port, the EPSON Stylus Photo 785EPX can be set up quickly and is both Windows and Macintosh compatible.

The EPSON Stylus Photo 785EPX comes with two software programs to help customers manage, enhance and print images; EPSON Software Film Factory, a photo management tool for organizing, beautifying and printing photos, and ArcSoft PhotoImpression, a project-based image editing application.

The EPSON Stylus Photo 785EPX will be available in June for an estimated street price of $249 and can be purchased through Epson authorized dealers, mail order, resellers, computer superstores, photo specialty stores and on the Epson retail Web site.




04-16-2001

Olympus Cuts Digital Camera Production; Plans To Focus On Higher-End Models

Olympus Optical Co., Tokyo, Japan, revised its digital camera production plan for this year downward to 200,000 units a month from the 300,000 units it had originally planned for, JPEA Photo Electro News reported. The company cited the bearish market in the United States as a major reason for the revision. Olympus exports mainly low-priced models to the United States.

"In short, we are withdrawing from the low-end markets that yield relatively little profits," said a company officer. "While the market is growing for low-priced digital cameras retailed at ¥19,800 to ¥29,800 ($158 to $238), we would rather leave it to other makers including makers of so-called toy digital cameras."

The same company officer added that competition is building among digital camera manufacturers to produce cameras with more powerful zoom lenses and higher pixel counts, and that Olympus plans to focus its efforts on these higher value-added models.




04-16-2001

Sony to Expand Memory Stick Line, 2002 Will See 256 & 512 MB, 1GB in 2003

JPEA Photo Electro News reports Sony Corp., Tokyo, Japan, will add new models to its line of Memory Sticks. This month, a 128 MB version is being introduced. In fiscal 2002, Sony will launch 256 MB and 512 MB models, and a 1 GB model will follow in 2003. Sony will also increase writing speed to 20 megabits per second next year.




04-16-2001

Sarnoff to Commercialize Mini Spy-Camera Technology

By Eric Auchard

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sarnoff Corp., the research lab responsible for video inventions dating back to color television, on Tuesday will unveil a miniature digital camera for use in mobile phones, security and auto applications.

The Princeton, N.J.-based research laboratory said its low-power, 1.2 inch by 1 inch BLINC digital camera will allow mobile phone users to send and receive film-quality photo and video images along with their calls.

Sarnoff, a privately held unit of SRI International, created the technology as a part of a U.S. government contract to build a miniaturized surveillance camera for use in covert spy operations, a scientist involved in the project said.

The contract required a camera that would allow its users to carry the device around for weeks before turning it on. The device needed to be able have its exposure adjusted quickly and respond to sudden changes in light.

Mobile phone makers around the globe are expected to upgrade to broadcast-quality video networks over the next several years, enabling a new era of mass-market video making.

MaCaffrey said the camera technology will also have wide application in the surveillance industry. Such devices could be used by automakers to create smarter airbag devices that have been mandated to be built in U.S. cars produced in 2005. Carmakers are looking to use as many as ten miniature cameras per automobile in cars built by 2006 or 2007, he added.

Sarnoff will unveil the new technology at the Society of Photo-optical and Instrumentation Engineers Aerosense Conference in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday.

The scientist said the camera technology offers some of the most advanced dynamic range features available in a camera of any size, let alone one as miniaturized as the BLINC.

Dynamic range is the capacity to capture all details in a scene from bright sunlight to deep shadows. Its Active Pixel Sensor technology delivers more than 100 times the dynamic range of typical cameras, Sarnoff said.

BLINC turns itself on to capture images in under one-tenth of a second, far faster than the two seconds existing technology requires to set exposure and capture an image.

It provides both still image and 30 frame-per-second video capture that broadcast-quality video requires. It pumps out 640 pixel by 480 pixel, 16-bit color video, the quality of basic personal computer screens, Sarnoff said.

It can capture usable images under any lighting situation without the power demands and slow response time of the mechanical iris required by other technologies, the lab said.

The technology uses about 600 milliwatts of power, or about one-fifth that of competing technologies, McCaffrey said.

Asked when products would be commercially available using the technology McCaffrey answered somewhat mysteriously that, ''There could be a product out there now that uses it.'' He declined to comment further saying that Sarnoff's customers prefer to brand the technology as their own and will announce it when they are ready to do so.

Sarnoff developed the color television in the 1930s and liquid crystal displays. It has helped pioneer a range of technologies used in video cameras and other image devices.




04-16-2001

Nikon N80 and other Reviews Posted



I have just posted the first of our film camera reviews, this one is for the Nikon N80, Nikon's advanced 35mm SLR. In the coming weeks and months we will be reviewing more film cameras so keep an eye open for the announcements here on the News page. These reviews will also be listed on the Camera Reviews index page.


More Reviews Posted

In the last couple of days I have also posted the following reviews:

Toshiba PDR-M65

Kodak mc3

BracketBoy Flash Bracket

DigiSnap 2000 - Remote Controller




04-14-2001

Qimage Pro Now Supports Olympus E-10 Raw (ORF) Files

Qimage Pro 2001 v1.4 now has full support for the Olympus 10 bit per channel E-10 raw (ORF) format. Use Qimage Pro to decode your E-10 raw images and get the same super-high res interpolation and color accuracy as that found in the Nikon D1 NEF decoder (see v1.3 news below). Qimage Pro 2001 v1.4 uses its own unique interpolation and color matching process to bring you the best images possible from your E-10 raw files, giving you detail down to the pixel level and excellent shadow detail. Although we have calibrated the color matching as accurately as possible, since this is the first release of Qimage Pro that includes E-10 raw file support, we plan to work with E-10 users to refine the color matching in future versions, improving tone curves and white balance curves based on user input where applicable.

Follow the link above to get the info on all of the other changes or fixes in the newest version of Qimage Pro 2001.




04-13-2001

Jenoptik Offers Updates For JS-21 35mm Scanner

The Jenoptik JS-21 35mm scanner features a Version 3.0 driver update, which features improved sharpness, definition and color saturation via a more accurate method of sensing the film base and ISO selection procedure.

Other improvements to the 2,400 dpi optical resolution scanner include better USB connectivity and the ability to scan both mounted and un-mounted slides with the supplied slide carriers for single or batch scanning. The JS-21 offers both parallel and USB interfaces for Windows 95, 98 and ME and comes with accessories and two software bundles. Retail price is £219.99 including VAT. Also available is a new Mac driver, which can be downloaded from www.jenoptik-camera.com.

Existing owners of the scanner may contact Jenoptik Camera U.K. Ltd. with a self-addressed envelope for a free copy of the new version 3.0 driver upgrade.




04-13-2001

LizardTech to Acquire Altamira's Genuine Fractals Technology

LizardTech, Seattle, Wash., USA, will acquire the Genuine Fractals technology of Altamira Group Inc., Burbank, Calif., USA. The acquisition will enable LizardTech to provide its DjVu and MrSID software solutions to Genuine Fractals' partners, alliances, customers and reseller channels. LizardTech will gain access to Genuine Fractals' sales channel with photography device manufacturers, such as Olympus, Nikon, and Minolta. The transaction will be finalized in the quarter ending June 30, subject to customary regulatory approvals.




04-13-2001

Kodak Revamps Picture CD Format

Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y., USA, is renewing the look and enhancing the functionality of its Kodak Picture CD, to make it easier for consumers to share their pictures via e-mail. The improved version is more-user friendly and makes it easier for consumers to get prints from their film-based pictures on the CD via Print@Kodak and other applications.

The new format has reconfigured participation by content suppliers other than Kodak, rendering the third party area less like advertising and focusing more on value to the consumer, Kodak said. The Interactive Marketplace section that contained advertising for products and services from other manufacturers was removed, as was "Internet Adventures," which featured Internet links to other companies' sites.

The Picture CD's wallet also features a design change and will undergo further changes during the second quarter of 2001. The latest version of the wallet now reinforces the message of "Turn film into pictures you can e-mail," while the reverse side calls out the benefits of the CD. The new look and messaging focuses on sharing through e-mail because research shows a majority of consumers use Picture CD to e-mail photos taken with color negative film in order to share with family and friends, Kodak said.

Kodak Picture CD will be updated three times each year. The first new release occurred in March of this year, and future 2001 releases are scheduled for June and September.




04-13-2001

Iomega Proposes Cash Payout To Settle Zip Drive Lawsuit

Iomega Corp., Roy, Utah, USA, proposed a cash payout of $4.7 million in a settlement regarding alleged defective Zip disk drives, Reuters reported. Iomega would also donate $1 million of its products and services to charity and offer rebates on new purchases of $5 to $40 to anyone who claims to have bought an Iomega Zip drive between the beginning of 1995 and March 19, 2001, the proposal on Iomega's website said. This class-action lawsuit was initiated in September 1998 by a group of purchasers of Iomega's Zip drive products.

According to Reuters, the suit alleges that Iomega drives had a "clicking" problem and other defects and that company advertising was misleading, claims that Iomega denied, saying it was settling the suit to avoid further costs. According to Iomega's website, the Delaware Superior Court will decide on the settlement in June. Those who believe they may qualify as a plaintiff in the lawsuit can find further information on this page.




04-13-2001

PhotoStreak Significantly Speeds the Sending of Photos over the Internet

HILTON HEAD, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 10, 2001--Compression Engine Technologies Inc., a leader in digital image compression, has introduced two new powerful and easy-to-use products that significantly speed the sending of digital images across the Internet.

PhotoStreak, an Internet Photo Accelerator, is a free full-featured download for personal use that allows for significant compression of digital images. PhotoStreak Pro is an enhanced version that is available for use by corporations and government users for $29.95. Both are available for download at www.photostreak.com.

"Whether it's to family and friends or an online photo developer, sending high-quality images over the Internet via e-mail has been one of the most frustrating tasks for the average personal user," according to Debbie Michelle, director of product marketing.

"The problem to date has been that the file sizes created by today's high resolution digital cameras and scanners are far larger than can be reasonably sent over still-popular standard dial-up Internet access lines."

In fact, as Internet usage at home has soared to now include 58% of U.S. households, or 162 million Web users, 88% of them are still using modem speeds of 56 Kbps or less. (Source: Nielson/NetRatings). And, according to a recent study by SBC Communications 62%, more than 100 million, of these users are sending photos via e-mail. That's a lot of wasted time waiting for large-file images to upload and download. PhotoStreak has just solved that problem.

PhotoStreak enables people to speed the sending of their photos over the Internet by speeds of 5 to 10 times faster. Sending these photos faster over the Internet leaves more time for other activities online.

PhotoStreak works by significantly compressing the digital image, while maintaining superb visual quality and image size, to a small file size that outdated compression techniques, such as JPEG and GIF, cannot accomplish. PhotoStreak can reduce a 2MB file size to 20 KB (a ratio of 100:1) or smaller while maintaining excellent image quality.

In fact, PhotoStreak can compress some images 200 to 300 times while still maintaining acceptable image quality. PhotoStreak utilizes a patented and proprietary technique based upon wavelet compression.

A comparable quality JPEG file for the same image would be 5 to 10 times larger (around 100 KB to 200 KB) than a PhotoStreak file.

Another benefit of PhotoStreak's smaller file size is that it consumes significantly less storage space. PhotoStreak images consume only about 20% of the storage space that similar-quality JPEG or GIF images require.

The PhotoStreak format is also available to Web site developers through the PixFire Web development tool. PixFire enables Web developers to place PhotoStreak images on their Internet sites. It is a low-cost ($99) software program that provides immediate and powerful results.

Using PhotoStreak images on a Web site greatly enhances the visitor's visual experience by providing a greater download speed (up to 5 to 10 times faster) of images that are both larger in size and better resolution than JPEG.

In addition, PhotoStreak images consume significantly less server storage space than JPEG images. PixFire also has plug-ins for both Adobe PhotoShop and Microsoft FrontPage 2000 and batch compression for the simultaneous processing of a large number of images.




04-12-2001

Harbortronics Releases New DigiSnap 2000


DigiSnap 2000 shown at actual size!


The DigiSnap 2000 is now ready for immediate sale -- Click on the link to read Steve's review - posted 4/17/01.

The electronic shutter release has spawned new features, but is also easier to use than before. There are now four buttons on the case, to zoom your camera's lens in and out, take a picture, and operate in time-lapse mode. At any time, during time-lapse or not, you may zoom the lens, and take a spontaneous shot.

Remote control used to mean that the camera's LCD would shut off... no more! The DigiSnap now allows you to use your camera's LCD monitor!

Configuring the time-lapse for short intervals couldn't be simpler! Hold the button down for more than two seconds, and the light will flash once per second... count up the number of seconds you want and let go. Press the button once more and it starts the time-lapse sequence. Press it again, and it stops. Quick and easy! You may not have ever used time-lapse before, but when it's this easy to use, you're going to find so many applications for it that you'll wonder why it's not a standard feature on all cameras!

We've added a new time-lapse capability as well, allowing you to take time-lapse sequences at specific times of the day or night. There's a lot of excitement over the possibilities this offers!

There are a host of new features available in the DigiSnap 2000. Accessing the full range of features is provided through a terminal interface. The DigiSnap 2000 manual is available on our website. Operating the DigiSnap is quite easy, but there is plenty to explore 'beneath the hood', should you have a more advanced application.

The DigiSnap is designed for the future! Firmware can be upgraded by the owner via email! The DigiSnap 2000 has an interface for an additional internal circuit board, to allow connections for remote triggering, lighting control, and wireless communication! These features will be offered as they are implemented. Keep watching our website!

If you have been considering the Nikon MC-EU1 for your new 990 or 880, you'll want to read the comparison to the DigiSnap 2000. The DigiSnap blows it away for features, flexibility, performance, and value!

(Note: The DigiSnap 2000 is compatible with a wide range of digital cameras, such as from Nikon, Olympus, Epson, Sanyo and Agfa. If your camera has a serial port and is from the above list of manufacturers, it may very well be controllable by the DigiSnap 2000. Not all camera models are compatible with the DigiSnap, and a few of those do not support remote zoom and LCD control. Check the website for compatibility information.)




04-11-2001

Canon S600 Out of Blue Sweepstakes

Canon S600 Bubble Jet Printer Promotion

Enter to win in the Canon S600 Out of Blue Sweepstakes for a chance at a 2001 Volkswagen® New Beetle GLX, Kawasaki JET SKI® Watercraft, New Orleans Blues Trip for Two, A Digital Solutions Package consisting of an indigo iMac™ computer, a Canon S600 Printer, and a Canon PowerShot® S300 Digital ELPH® Camera, a Handspring™ Visor™ Edge Handheld Computer, and a Nokia™ 8260 Wireless Phone.

SWEEPSTAKES OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. Sweepstakes begins on April 9, 2001 at 12:00 a.m. (PT) and ends on April 30, 2001 at 11:59 p.m. (PT).




04-11-2001

A-Digital-Eye Reviews Sony S75

Dave Kamanski at the A-Digital-Eye site emailed to let me know that he had just posted a thorough Sony DSC-S75 review as well as many sample photos. Dave even tested the camera with Sony's Remote Control tripod which is something we haven't seen or used yet. His conclusion was in line with the rest of us that have reviewed this camera:

    "The DSC-S75 provides great color and overall high quality picture results, standing out along with the relatively good value you get from the MSRP of just $699. With a solid camera feel to it, very easy menus to use, lots of camera control and manual exposure / focus settings, and a great battery life, the latest 3.34 megapixel offering by Sony is one which we feel has a lot to offer potential buyers, and one we can highly recommend."



04-11-2001

SB-29 Ringflash Adapter for Coolpix

Photo courtesy of MediaNord


The folks over at digitalkamera.de in Germany have posted information about an adapter ring that allows you to mount the Nikon SB-29 ringlight on Coolpix cameras and retain full TTL flash exposure control. This should be of special interest to dentists and other medical people that need the lighting of a professional ringlight to enhance their closeup pictures with the Coolpix 950 or 990. Follow the link above to read the entire article and to get the web address of the company that markets this adapter ring.




04-10-2001

Olympus D-100 Brio Review Posted

We just finished our Olympus D-100 review, this is a pocket-size 1.3-megapixel digicam that doesn't have a lot of frills but it does take good pictures and it won't break the bank. If you're looking for an easy to use, point-n-shoot type camera then this may be the one for you.




04-09-2001

Kodak DCS 760 list price: US$7995; Street Price: US$7000

According to pro photojournalist Rob Galbraith's web site Kodak has announced a price for the new DCS 760 SLR.

    "Kodak today pegged the list price of the upcoming DCS 760 digital SLR camera at US$7995. Meanwhile, three pro dealers contacted in the US late last week indicate they are taking pre-orders for the DCS 760, which is slated to ship next month (not this month, as variously reported around the Web), at a price of just under US$7000."



04-09-2001

Fujifilm FinePix 6800 Zoom Review Posted

FujiFilm FinePix 6800


Just posted our Fujifilm FinePix 6800 Zoom review. This is an impressive little pocket-size camera that takes 2048 x 1536 (3-megapixel) images that can be further enlarged in-camera to 2832 x 2128 via the SuperCCD interpolation. Its all-metal case and builtin lens protector make it a good "go anywhere" type of camera for the extreme sportist or the casual user. Capable of 160-second full motion video with sound, 60 minutes of audio recording plus it can also be used as a webcam so it is very versatile. Check out the rest of the features in our review.

For a second or third opinion see the following Fuji 6800Z reviews:

Imaging-Resource         DP Review



04-09-2001

Fujifilm FinePix 6800 Zoom and FinePix 2300 Now Available

ELMSFORD, NY, April 9, 2001 - Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. today announced the first nationwide shipments of the two newest additions to its FinePix digital camera line - the stylish and versatile FinePix 6800 Zoom, with its new 3.3 million-sensor Super CCD and High Definition Color Processing Technology for more colorful pictures with resolutions as high as six million pixels, and the FinePix 2300 digital camera, the latest in Fujifilm's popular line of entry-level FinePix digital photography products.

With suggested list prices of $899 and $279 respectively, the FinePix 6800 Zoom and the FinePix 2300 offer these useful features and functions:

With a body conceived by F.A. Porsche, the same designer that brought the world the distinctive and timeless look of the classic Porsche® 911 sports car, the FinePix 6800 Zoom features a new 3.3 million-sensor Super CCD, High Definition Color Processing Technology and a host of useful features that will appeal to a wide range of consumers and businesspeople.

Designed with the first-time digital photographer in mind, the FinePix 2300 offers point-and-shoot convenience with a 2.1 megapixel CCD sensor for simple, quality picture taking with outstanding color.

The FinePix 2300 mimics the lightweight, user-friendly design of its MX-1200 and FinePix 1300 predecessors, allowing users to work its main functions via a few controls on the back of the camera. Aside from the 1.6-inch color, liquid crystal display - on which the user can view the subject both before and after the picture is taken - the most recognizable feature of the FinePix 2300 is its function control dial. This dial allows users to navigate effortlessly through the camera's menu system for easy access to the various shooting, playback, five flash and six white balance modes. If a consumer is comfortable around a 35mm film camera, he or she will certainly feel comfortable with the FinePix 2300.




04-09-2001

Canon Debuts S600 Bubble Jet Printer; A Major Leap in Ink Jet Printing Technology

COSTA MESA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 9, 2001-- Canon U.S.A. Inc., a division of Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), announced today its S600 Bubble Jet printer which the company believes sets new standards for performance in the mid-range ink jet printing market for small office/home office (SOHO) users.

The S600 printer, new to the company's broad range of Bubble Jet printers, boasts high-resolution four-color printing at 2400x1200 dpi -- 38 percent higher resolution than 2880x720 dpi printers -- and produces laser-quality text at up to 15 pages-per-minute (ppm) as well as stunning 8x10-inch photos on plain paper in approximately 90 seconds.

The S600 printer also includes the exclusive Canon ThinkTank System -- individual ink tanks for each color (CMYK) and a low-ink sensor -- an intelligent, economical system. For only $199 estimated street price, the S600 printer offers a combined feature set that no competitive printer can match.

Ink jet printer resolutions are determined by dots per inch and the S600 Bubble Jet printer delivers 2400x1200 color dpi for 2.88 million dots. Compared with competitive printers that have 2880x720 color dpi -- only 2,073,600 dots -- the S600 printer delivers more than 800,000 more dots per square inch. This means the S600 printer places more ink on the paper and thus, extends the color gamut for deeper colors.

Most ink jet printers in this class have been able to achieve higher resolutions but must sacrifice speed. The S600 printer breaks the ink jet printer speed barrier delivering 15 ppm in black and 10 ppm in color. Photo prints at 8x10-inch size are created on plain paper in approximately 90 seconds, comparable to many photo printers at much higher prices.

The Canon ThinkTank System is a system that Canon pioneered more than seven years ago on its BJC-600 series printers. This individual ink tank system is a hallmark of Canon's Bubble Jet printer line and includes an optical ink sensor that detects when an ink tank is low and alerts the user in advance of the ink running out via an on-screen warning that virtually eliminates ink waste.

By only replacing the ink color that has run out, users have a more efficient printer as opposed to throwing out an entire ink cartridge when one color runs out as users experience with many competitive printers.

Canon's pigment-based black ink, the BCI-3e, creates laser-quality text and improved color inks, individual color ink tanks -- the BCI-3eM, BCI-3eC, BCI-3eY -- have higher optical densities and improved ink formulations for more vivid colors and enhanced brightness with no over-saturation.

In addition, Canon has tested its inks on Canon Photo Paper Pro (PR-101) for archival quality with results of prints that last approximately 25 years without fading.

The S600 printer has USB connection for both PC and Mac users, quiet operation at 39 decibels in the highest quality mode and a one-year limited warranty with InstantExchange Program. Shipping today, the S600 printer has an estimated street price of $199.




04-09-2001

MacDill AFB "AirFest 2001" Photos

DCP_5217.JPG DCP_5016.JPG

I loaned my doctor friend a Kodak DC4800 Zoom to use at the AirFest 2001 air show held yesterday at MacDill AFB in Tampa. As usual they put on a terrific show with everything from F-117 Stealth fighters to B1 bombers and the Blue Angels and many more planes and things. I have posted a page full of the best photos - enjoy!

AirFest 2001 photo page





04-08-2001

Qimage Pro 2001 v1.3 Released

Qimage Pro author Mike Chaney emailed to say:

"I've spent that last 2+ weeks completely rebuilding the D1 NEF decoder in Qimage Pro, with focus on increasing resolving power. After weeks of designing and testing new interpolation algorithms, I've finally settled on a hybrid method that is capable of bringing you 1450+ lines of moire-free resolution as demonstrated on the Qimage Pro site using a standard resolution chart. This unprecedented level of resolution far exceeds that of even the previous king of resolution, the Fuji S1 Pro. In addition, the new NEF decoder has redesigned color matching for more accurate color and contrast."

Qimage Pro 2001 v1.3 Major Features -

  • Interpolation at its best: Take your D1 NEF images to new extremes by resolving an unparalleled 1450+ lines of resolution both horizontally and vertically! That's significantly higher resolving power than even the Fuji S1 Pro. Qimage Pro 2001 v1.3 uses an innovative gradient controlled Lanczos interpolation to interpolate the raw CCD data to bring you an unprecendented level of resolving power. We didn't stop at mere resolving power, however, as the new interpolation algorithm also incorporates a vector-seeking moire reduction to ensure that you get all that resolving power without any troublesome checkerboard patterns. Don't take our word for it, check out the comparisons!

  • More accurate color: Along with a complete rebuild of the NEF decoder, we have rebuilt the color matching for the NEF decoder as well. Qimage Pro 2001 v1.3 will give you more accurate color with better contrast. Previous versions were a bit light in shadow areas which may be great for detail, but decreases contrast. You will find that v1.3 has a better overall balance when decoding your D1 NEF's.



04-07-2001

Canon Announces Exciting Spring Promotions for Cameras, Lenses, Binoculars and Camcorders

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 6, 2001--Zooming in on gift ideas for Mother's Day, Father's Day, graduations and summer fun, Canon, U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon, Inc., has introduced promotional offers that provide photographers and videographers with a total shooting experience. Featured Canon products include cameras, lenses, binoculars and digital camcorders.

CAMERAS, LENSES, BINOCULARS

Canon Rebates(1): Purchase eligible cameras, lenses, or binoculars from April 1, 2001 to July 31, 2001 and save up to $350 with rebate offers. For example, the purchase of a Canon EOS-1v camera, PB-E2 Power Drive Booster and EF 400/2.8 L IS U lens, provides a rebate of $350.

Canon Free Offer(1): Canon's most powerful free offer ever combines the purchase of a Canon EOS D30 digital camera with a free 340mb Microdrive PowerPack ($437 retail value). Effective purchase dates are April 1, 2001 to June 30, 2001.

The Canon EOS D30 digital camera is the world's smallest digital single lens reflex camera (as of August 2000). Compatible with all interchangeable EF lenses, it has built-in flash with E-TTL flash control. Software bundle supports Mac and PC.

(1) Only purchases from an authorized Canon U.S.A. dealer in the United States or Puerto Rico are valid. Offer valid for residents of the United States and Puerto Rico only. Request form must be accompanied by the original customer portion of the Canon U.S.A. warranty card. Please see authorized Canon dealer for details and restrictions.

DIGITAL CAMCORDERS

In addition to the Canon XL1 and GL1 digital camcorder promotions announced in March (Receive Media 100's CineStream software plus a Canon BP-930 high capacity battery pack -- combined retail value of the offer is $619), Canon now offers valuable digital imaging promotions for the rest of its camcorder products.

Purchases must be made from an authorized Canon dealer in the United States or Puerto Rico. Coupons, with specifications on each digital camcorder promotion, are available at Canon digital video retailers or can be downloaded from the Canon website.

Purchase the Canon Elura 2 or the Canon Optura Pi until June 30, 2001 and receive free Digital Origin Intro DV Software package, a $149 retail value.

Purchase any Canon digital camcorder that accepts a MultiMedia Card (MMC) for recording digital photos until June 30, 2001 and receive a free Microtech ZiO! MultiMedia Card Reader/Writer, a $40 retail value. Canon models include the new Canon ZR30 MC, the new Canon ZR25 MC and the Canon Elura 2MC.

Purchase the Canon ZR10 until April 30, 2001, or the Canon ZR20 until July 31, 2001, and receive free Digital Origin Intro DV Software package, a $149 retail value.




04-06-2001

Make "Real" B&W Images in PhotoShop, Restoring & Retouching Book, and a How-To for Web Graphics Video

The folks over at Digital Outback Photo have just posted an article called "REALISTIC, FILM-LIKE B&W IN PHOTOSHOP" that tells you how to convert your color images into the equivalent of pictures shot on real B&W film. The author of the article has also made the necessary channel mixer files available for download.


QUE Publishing is releasing "Photoshop Restoration & Retouching," by Katrin Eismann. The 276-page book deals with exposure and color correction, dust and mold removal, damage repair, and portrait retouching. A supplemental website for the book is available at www.digitalretouch.org, where readers can download images used in the book for practice.


Total Training Inc., Encinitas, Calif., USA, released a new training series Creating Web Graphics with Adobe Photoshop 6. The supplement to the series Total Training for Photoshop 6 provides information specific to creating images for Intranet and Internet sites. Photoshop expert Deke McClelland collaborated on the project. The series is available in NTSC, PAL and DVD (available soon) video formats, and an accompanying CD-ROM contains all the graphic files used by the instructor in each lesson. It supports both Windows and Mac.




04-05-2001

Epson Introduces New Large-Format Inkjet Printer

Epson America Inc., Long Beach, Calif., USA, is introducing a new large-format printer. The Epson Stylus Pro 10000 uses a variable droplet Micro Piezo DX3 print head with photo accelerator and nozzle verification technologies to create images up to 44 inches wide at 1,440-by-720 dpi resolution. Epson said the Stylus Pro 10000 is its fastest inkjet printer to date, with speeds approximately six times faster than its predecessors - the Stylus Pro 9000 and 9500. The printer can output images up to 231 square feet per hour at its fastest setting, Epson said, and approximately 72 square feet per hour when printing photographic-quality output. The Stylus Pro 10000 also features Epson's Archival Ink technology, which Epson said enhances the quality and extends the life of prints.

The Stylus Pro 10000 offers a USB, IEEE 1394 FireWire, ECP Parallel and Epson Type-B expansion slot standard with optional cards available for 10/100 BaseT. The printer will be available in June for an estimated street price of $9,995 through authorized Epson dealers.




04-05-2001

Kodak Offers "Trade-Up" Program For Thermal Printer Owners

The Kodak Professional division of Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y., USA, is offering owners of Kodak Digital Science 8600, 8400 PS, 8650 and 8650 thermal printers or the Kodak Professional PS 8657 color printer the opportunity to receive a $1,250 rebate when they trade in their printer towards the purchase of a new Kodak Professional 8660 or 8670 PS thermal printer under Kodak's "Trade Up the Heat" program.

The Kodak Professional 8670 PS thermal printer offers a 133-Mhz processor and built- in Adobe PostScript 3 RIP which enables it to print photo-quality images from almost any PostScript software application in about 75 seconds for an 8-by-10-inch print, Kodak said. The Kodak Professional 8660 thermal printer offers both matte and gloss print surfaces, Kodak said, and offers a 15 percent faster printing speed over its predecessor.

The Kodak Professional "Trade Up the Heat" thermal printer trade-in program runs until Oct. 31. The $1,250 trade-in rebate is issued as a credit memo to the authorized dealer making the sale, and is then passed on to the customer. The suggested retail price for the 8660 is $5,995, and the suggested price for the 8670 PS is $6,795.




04-04-2001

Bibble is Back and Faster Than Ever!

For those of you that are not familiar with Bibble it's a PC/Windows and Macintosh program developed as an alternative to Nikon Capture for the D1. After the author perfected it as a NEF file converter those of us with Canon D30's asked him to make it work the same with the Canon RAW (.crw) files created by our cameras. It has been working with the .crw files since December of last year but rather slowly because it depended on the Canon drivers supplied with the software that came with the camera. I just received the following message from Eric along with the announcement of the release of the latest version of Bibble:

    "Sorry for the lack of updates recently, but I've spent the last 3 months trying to find a way to work around using the slow canon .crw drivers, and I've succeeded!

    Now you can finally tap amazing power and flexibility that is in your Canon D30 Raw files in a reasonable amount of time.

    With this version of Bibble you will now be able to load D30 .crw files 2-3 times faster(depending on options) than you can with any other piece of software...including Canon's.

    Additionally, since the files are now 100% being processed by Bibble, you will also get better color through Bibble's custom profile, and great detail with bibbles raw interpolator, not to mention full 16 bit processing.

    Additionally, after making adjustments to your images, and saving them as 16 bit tiff's or jpegs, all the EXIF shooting info is preserved in the file for future reference. Bibble can also process .crw files by themselves (without the .thm files), but then you don't get EXIF info.

    Of course all of this also functions with all of Bibble's other features including its lightning fast browser, image processing tools (Curves, Levels, etc), as well as a direct Photoshop "File:open" plugin.

    This version also fixes some niggling bugs that crept into the last version. As always, I hope you are finding Bibble useful."

Bibble Version 2.5 New Features:
  • Complete support for D30 including CRW's/Jpegs/Exif
  • Dramatic 3X-2x Speed increase when decoding CRW files.
  • Enhanced D30 Raw color using custom profile.
  • Canon's drivers no longer needed for CRW files.
  • D30 Files preserve EXIF info when saved.
Note that the Mac version does not currently support the D30, as Canon has not provided drivers. As the PC version no longer depends on the Canon drivers, I will be adding D30 support for the Mac soon.

Bibble can always be found at its new home: http://www.bibblelabs.com




04-02-2001

April Fools Abound on the Net

Before you email me asking about the new 6-megapixel Olympus SLR or the 5-megapixel Coolpix Pro One or the multitude of other new "exotic" and high-res digicams that you might have heard about on one site or another in the past day or so please remember that yesterday was April Fool's Day. Many sites and news groups have been hit by incredible announcements of new cameras that seem to be too good to be true - they are!




04-01-2001

Steve's Digicams To Review Film Cameras

No April's Fooling -- Steve's Digicams announces today that we are expanding our camera reviews to also include film cameras, both Point and Shoot and SLR's!   The first review of the Nikon N80 is expected to be posted this week. This will be a cooperative effort between Steve's Digicams and Lake Shore Camera Exchange. Watch for further news as we post the reviews.




04-01-2001

Happy Birthday - Imaging-Resource

Our good friends over at the Imaging-Resource are celebrating their third year in the digicam web site business - congratulations!

(Here at Steve's we got our start in early 1997 by posting some digicam information on my web site for ham radio and weather topics. At the beginning of 1998 we registered the steves-digicams.com domain and created this web site.)







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