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-- Top News Stories -- Archos AVCam 300 Module C1 Rebel - Canon 300D RAW Software C1 Pro Now Available for Mac Users Canon EOS Digital Rebel Firmware Upgrade DiMAGE Messenger 2.0 Software Epson Stylus Photo R300 and R300M Epson Stylus Photo R800 Epson Stylus Pro 4000 Printer Flashtrax 40GB and 80GB Models Lexar Media Image Rescue 2.0 Nikon Coolpix 3700 Panasonic DMC-FZ10 Sigma Photo Pro Version 2.0 Sigma SD10 SLR Sony DSC-T1 and DSC-U40 October 2003 News Index September 2003 News Index August 2003 News Index 2003 Holiday Wish List Steve's "Best of 2003" Camera Picks PMA 2003 Special Report Sunday Morning Photographer (A weekly column by Mike Johnston)

11-24-2003

Archos Introduces Camera Module for the Popular AV300 Series Portable Video Player IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 24, 2003-- Archos, Inc., a global provider of innovative handheld entertainment and storage solutions, introduced today the AVCam 300, the world's first camera and camcorder attachment for a portable audio and video player. The AVCam brings together for the first time a 3.3-megapixel camera, MPEG-4 camcorder and player, MP3 recorder and player and massive hard disk. The AV300 series and AVCam are available today at www.archos.com. Read the entire Archos press release.

11-24-2003

Fujifilm Finepix S3000 Review Posted Just posted is our Fuji Finepix S3000 review, this is a 3-megapixel 6x optical zoom camera that is very reasonably priced ($300 or less.) It's an easy to use digicam that will make a great holiday gift for any member of your family.

11-24-2003

Vicman Software Releases "Red Eye Remover" - A Powerful and Handy Photo-Correction Program Red Eye Remover is a Windows program that can remove a common "red-eye" effect from your images in an almost automatic mode. Using advanced science-intensive technology, Red Eye Remover program is able to detect a red pupil from the rectangular area which you specify. Red Eye Remover will do the rest. If you don't like the result, you can adjust the correction options, watching the results in real-time. If you have a Java Virtual Machine installed, you can see an animated "quick tour" about the program to become familiar with it quickly. Evaluation version can be downloaded from our site and the full version of Red Eye Remover can be purchased for $19.95(US)

11-23-2003

Qimage v2004.100 Released We received the following from Qimage's author: We would like to take this opportunity to announce the release of the 2004 edition of Qimage. Qimage v2004.100 is based largely on user feedback and suggestions and includes features such as a new print cropping tool, a new easier to use batch filter window, improved thumbnail resolution, faster processing of thumbnails and screen redraws, print size "suggestor" that automatically highlights the most compatible print size(s) for selected images, new quick access keys, sound to indicate completion of processing, and much more. You can check out the full list of enhancements and fixes at the URL above. Note that with the 2004 edition comes a slight price increase, but for only $44.95 you get the most powerful printing application in the world with free lifetime upgrades, making Qimage one of the best deals in the software industry for printing digital images in Windows 95/98/NT/2000/ME/XP.

11-21-2003

Panasonic DMC-FZ10 Review Posted We just finished and posted our Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ10 review. This is a 4-megapixel camera with a high-power 12x Leica zoom lens complete with image stabilizer and a 2-inch LCD. You can't get any closer to the action than this, it's the longest focal length zoom of any 4-megapixel camera.

11-20-2003

LetsGoDigital Posts Sony T1 First Look Our good friends over at LetsGoDigital have posted a thorough 6-page Sony DSC-T1 First Look report. This is a very small 5-megapixel camera with an internal Zeiss zoom lens and a huge 2.5-inch color LCD on the back. They also have news about a new Kyocera Finecam S3R camera. It looks identical to the Finecam S5R that we recently reviewed and features the same 3fps continuous speed and VGA movie capability.

11-19-2003

Photo Marketing Association Launches Digital Imaging Web site for Consumers Jackson, MI - Photo Marketing Association International (PMA), on behalf of the imaging industry, launches today a new Internet Web site www.prints-are-memories.com. This visually appealing Web site is part of an industry-wide educational campaign designed to help consumers as they make digital photography a part of their daily lives. As an industry, PMA is committed to help consumers have as great an experience with digital photography as they have had with film. This Web site provides an unbiased source of information to help consumers better understand digital photography as well as the output options available to them, whether printing at home, online or at their local retailer. This user-friendly Web site will help consumers make wise purchasing decisions by helping them determine the right digital camera and accessories for them. And for those consumers who already own a digital camera, this site is filled with picture-taking ideas and creative uses for their digital photos.

11-18-2003

Capture One Pro Now Available for Mac Users NORTHPORT, NY, November 18, 2003 - Phase One, the world leader in professional digital imaging camera backs and software, is pleased to announce the official release of its C1 PRO v1.2 RAW Workflow software for Mac OS X. This latest version in the C1 DSLR line of RAW Workflow software supports the entire Canon EOS DSLR line of digital SLR's including the 1Ds, 1D, 10D, D30, D60, as well as the newly introduced 300D ("Digital Rebel"). The new software release includes a 30-day free trail and is available at: www.c1dslr.com and www.pictureflow.com (US), and www.pixource.com (Asia). Capture One DSLR software (C1) has firmly established itself as the preeminent workflow solution for the highest quality conversion of RAW image files from Canon and Nikon Professional and Enthusiast DSLR cameras. With the release of the C1 Pro v1.2 Mac, the workflow and quality advantages of the patent-pending Phase One image processing algorithms are utilized to bring out the best possible image qualities from the full range of Canon Digital SLR models. Popular Nikon and other DSLR cameras are slated for support in a follow-up release. C1 PRO v1.2 RAW Workflow software is fully compatible with Mac OS X, including the recently released "Panther" system upgrade (OS X v10.3), and is available at no cost to all registered C1 PRO users.

11-17-2003

Olympus C5000 Zoom Review Posted Just posted is our Olympus C5000 Zoom review, a compact and stylish 5-megapixel 3x zoom camera that is loaded with exposure features but easy to use by those with any skill level. It will make a great holiday gift. We just received a Nikon D2H and will be busy putting together a thorough review of this incredible camera. It is so fast it's simply unbelievable!

11-16-2003

Sigma Posts Photo Pro Version 2.0 for Download Sigma Japan has posted the latest Sigma Photo Pro Version 2.0 software online for download. This software is being bundled with the new Sigma SD10 camera but it can also be used with existing SD9 cameras too. If you're a SD9 owner or user you can download the new software from here. To see what's new or different in Photo Pro 2.0 just check out our SD10 software page.

11-16-2003

Digital Photography, Imaging, and Printing Workshop Cruise Re-Scheduled For March Sailing An 8-day Digital Photography & Imaging Cruise to the Southern Caribbean previously planned for January has been re-scheduled to embark from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on March 28, 2004, to take advantage of smoother seas and longer hours of daylight. The instruction schedule features digital photography lectures and demonstrations, Photoshop lessons, and picture critiquing of work shot both onboard and ashore. Printers will be available for use around-the-clock in the workshop's private conference room. Enrollment is limited to 30 to allow for personalized instruction. Participating sponsors include Epson, Olympus, Adobe and others, and each workshop attendee will receive a gift package valued at more than $800. Cost of the workshop cruise starts at $1,995 with non-attendee companions paying less than half. Information: (800) 652-2267 or www.dpcorner.com/cruise

11-12-2003

More Camera Reviews & Conclusions Maybe we'll finally get to the last of these new cameras -- probably just in time to start it all over again with the new 2004 models... Anyway, today we posted the HP Photosmart 945 review, a 5-megapixel 8x optical super zoom camera. HP has put some newly developed image enhancements under the hood of this one. Adaptive Light Technology helps eliminate harsh shadows and contrasty areas and even acts as a digital fill-in flash and PPR gives you vivid colors and photographic images instead of digital pictures. And let's not forget that powerful 8x zoom. And just posted is the conclusion to our Pentax *ist D review. This is yet another excellent and reasonably priced digital SLR camera that yields very good but slightly soft images. It's got all the features you need whether you're a novice or experienced shooter and it's one of the smallest and lightest dSLRs on the market. And of course it can use the vast majority of Pentax lenses already out there as well as the newly designed digital lenses.

11-12-2003

Rob Galbraith Tests New Hitachi 4GB Microdrive Pro shooter Rob Galbraith has gotten a production-level Hitachi 4GB Microdrive and has already benchmarked its performance and entered the data into his CompactFlash Perforance Database. Check out Rob's review of this exciting new high-capacity storage device for digital SLRs.

11-12-2003

Alera Announces New Digital Photo Copy Cruiser CHATSWORTH, Calif. -- Alera Technologies, developer and manufacturer of Advanced DVD and CD Recording Solutions proudly debuts its new Digital Photo Copy Cruiser that copies digital photos directly from camera memory cards to CD without a computer. The Digital Photo Copy Cruiser is compact and transportable, so you can copy your digital photos to CD instantly wherever you are, for quick distribution and your memory cards can be easily cleared for reuse. The new Digital Photo Copy Cruiser has a low Estimated Street Price (ESP) of only $229 so that all users can enjoy the most convenient way to store and share digital photos. The Digital Photo Copy Cruiser is equipped with a USB 2.0 port and can be connected to a computer and used as a 36x CD Recorder. An Award Winning Software Suite is included FREE! with purchase featuring Ahead Nero with a new user friendly wizard that simplifies the CD recording process with the use of mouse over direction and Ulead Photo Explorer providing an efficient way to transfer, browse, modify and distribute digital media. Photo Explorer is the all in one tool for owners of digital cameras, Web Cams, DV camcorders, scanners or anyone that wants a more effective way to manage digital media. When copying flash memory cards, you can copy up to twenty-one 32MB flash memory cards to a 700MB CD. Photos from each card can be added to the CD in multi-session format so the entire 700MB storage capacity of the CD can be used. The Digital Photo Copy Cruiser supports the following Digital Memory Card formats: CF Type I and II, SD, MMC, SM, MS, MS Pro, and Micro Drive. Each package contains the Software Suite, a USB cable, a 100-240v, 50-60Hz power adapter, a Quick Start Guide and Users Guide.

11-11-2003

MOBYfolio All-in-One Photo Gallery/Hosting Service Redditch, UK - Moby-dog.com, the hosting and software providers for the photographer, have today released MOBYfolio, The All- In-One Photo Gallery Website Builder solution. MOBYfolio answers the prayers for all photographers who would like to have their own website showing their photographs but don't have the necessary IT skills to build their own. It is an affordable, incredibly easy to use system containing everything required to build and maintain a professional looking photographic website. Via a system of very simple web pages MOBYfolio walks the photographer through the design process which makes his or her website unique. Any number of galleries with up to two levels of sub galleries can be created and an unlimited number of photos can be stored on the website. MOBYfolio is available in four versions, ranging from $96 to $160 per year. This includes domain name (URL) fees, the MOBYfolio software preinstalled on the website, unlimited web hosting, and unlimited internet bandwidth - everything needed is included.

11-09-2003

Konica Minolta Announces DiMAGE Messenger 2.0 Software Mahwah, NJ - Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc. announces the retail availability of a boxed CD-ROM version of Minolta DiMAGE Messenger 2.0 digital imaging software. This enhanced digital imaging software product, which was announced in August, allows users to automatically link written text, additional images or an audio track to specific portions of digital images, share the combination with others via e-mail or printed copy, and invite related comments to be added from the receiver - all in just a few, simple steps. In addition, a new search feature allows specific comments to be located quickly. Searches can be made by word, date of entry, or user name. DiMAGE Messenger 2.0 software is an ideal communication tool. The application is ideal for all persons who need to communicate by looking at and working with images and exchanging written words about the elemental contents of those images - and is especially useful when significant distances separate two or more people. Examples of highly suitable applications include real estate and insurance appraisals, documentation for technical devices, and education and training. Consumers can enjoy a free trial version of Konica Minolta's DiMAGE Messenger 2.0 by downloading the software from the Konica Minolta Web site.

11-08-2003

New Camera and Battery Reviews Posted Just posted is the Kodak DX4350 review, a very reasonably priced 5-megapixel 3x zoom camera that produces good images. And the best part is that it is priced at an incredible $350! And we just posted two battery and charger reviews. First up is the Power Vision RCR-V3 the first rechargeable CR-V3 lithium battery available to the consumer market. No more spending $9-10 a pop for one-use CR-V3 batteries, this battery is rechargeable up to 800 times. And for those that use AA size NiMH batteries we have the Rayovac I-C3 15-Minute NiMH System. These are 2000mAh rated AA cells and a charger that fully replenishes them in just 15 minutes. I guarantee that this is the fastest charger ever but the secret is really inside of the batteries themselves.

11-07-2003

Nabocorp. Releases Latest Version Of cam2pc Nabocorp Software is pleased to announce the release of the new version of its award winning digital imaging solution for consumers and prosumers. The first version of cam2pc was made available on the Internet 2 years ago and has gained more and more success during these years. cam2pc is known for its speed, ease-of-use and complete set of features to dowload, organize, modify and share digital images. Also its unique picture download module, which has made the success of cam2pc and represents the first step to image organization on a PC and has been widely acclaimed on the Internet and in magazines. cam2pc 4.0 is available through nabocorp softwares' web site. A 30-day free trial is available for download. Registration is $30 and can be purchased through Paypal and Shareit systems.

11-07-2003

Digital Imaging Websites Association (DIWA), Independent International Organisation Comprised of Experienced, Professional, Online Publications DIWA's purpose is to identify excellence in digital imaging products, including cameras, photo printers, scanners, accessories and software. DIWA awards marks of excellence for selected products that have shown their superiority through rigorous, standardised, testing procedures. These awards are designed to give consumers complete confidence in making the best digital imaging choices for their needs. Read the full DIWA press release.

11-05-2003

Noise Ninja Eliminates High-ISO Noise and Grain from Digital Images Noise Ninja is a new, state-of-the-art software application that eliminates high-ISO noise, scanner noise, and grain from digital images. Developed by PictureCode of Austin, Texas, Noise Ninja is based on a breakthrough in a field of mathematics called wavelet theory. Compared to other noise removal solutions, Noise Ninja does a superior job of suppressing noise while preserving sharpness and detail. It also runs up to four times faster than other solutions. Noise Ninja is especially useful for high-ISO photographs from digital cameras. It is ideal for sports photographers, photojournalists, event photographers, and anyone else who needs clean shots in low-light, indoor, or fast-action situations. For professionals, Noise Ninja can pay for itself almost immediately in saved time and rescued images. Pricing is $39 for a Home license, and $99 for a Professional license. The Home license allows 8-bit file output. The Professional license allows 16-bit file output, and it also enables Noise Ninja's batch processing feature. At present, Noise Ninja runs on Microsoft Windows. The software can be downloaded for free from the PictureCode website.

11-05-2003

Micro Research Announces 3D-Album Commercial Suite NY, NY, November 5, 2003 — Micro Research II, the developer of the award-winning 3D-Album, announced today 3D-Album Commercial Suite for professional photographers, videographers, advertising & multimedia designers, and business professionals for use in weddings and photo shoots, portfolios, digital cataloguing, yearbooks, advertising and sales presentations. 3D-Album Commercial Suite includes a commercial license for distribution of CDs, DVDs, albums, catalogs, screensavers, and customized programs. A professional photographer may create a wedding presentation using 3D-Album and copy it to multiple CDs or DVDs for sale. Businesses can take advantage of 3D-Album’s graphic power to create exciting promotional presentations and catalogs that can be copied to a CD or a DVD to be given to existing or potential customers. The perfect tool for professionals to package their photo, art, video, music, voiceovers, and text creations through a DVD or CD multimedia presentation, 3D-Album Commercial Suite includes all the features a professional needs for their presentation, including a photo editor, photo organizer, album creator, page layout & printer feature. With 3D-Album, a photographer’s portfolio will come alive with creative animated 3D presentations which captivate audiences. 3D-Album Commercial Suite is available immediately for Windows for $299 from Office Depot and other retailers and online at www.3d-album.com toll free phone: (877) 233-2528.

11-05-2003

Nikon D2H Now Shipping in "Small Quantities" in the U.S. Richard LoPinto, VP of SLR Camera Systems at Nikon USA, indicates that "small quantities" of the D2H have already shipped in the US. A modest initial shipment has already passed through Nikon USA's dealer channel into the hands of customers, says LoPinto, with the next round of cameras shipping from Nikon USA expected to arrive at US dealers by the middle of November. Read the entire story at Rob Galbraith's Digital Photography site

11-05-2003

SmartDisk Adds 40GB and 80GB Models of Award-Winning FlashTrax Fort Myers, Fla., November 3, 2003 - SmartDisk Corporation today introduced 40GB and 80GB models of its award-winning FlashTrax handheld portable multimedia device for offloading and storing digital images and music. FlashTrax safely stores high-resolution images transferred from any flash memory card onto the built-in USB 2.0 hard drive and displays them on a 3.5” LCD that outperforms tiny on-camera screens. By using the sleek control pad, the user can change the image, zoom in, zoom out and pan, or choose a slide show function without the need of a PC. In addition to rapid JPEG view and zoom, FlashTrax can display most RAW format files using the JPEG data typically embedded in such files. The LCD folds to ensure that both the screen and control buttons remain protected while in field use. Images may be viewed on the LCD screen or on any TV using the included remote control. To facilitate portability, FlashTrax includes a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. A built-in MP3 player makes this device even more attractive - more than 7,000 compressed audio files can be stored and played back through the built-in speaker, or through headphones or external speakers. FlashTrax also supports video playback of motion picture JPEG files, a format typically used for the short movies supported by many digital still cameras. With transfer speeds of up to 480MBps, FlashTrax can also serve as an external hard drive to transfer, store and access data or act as a simple backup device. The new FlashTrax models are available now through retailers and distributors, as well as through the company’s Web site.

11-03-2003

Harbortronics Announces New Snap360 Turntable & Camera Controller Harbortronics LLC is excited to announce a new product family to compliment their internationally popular digital camera controllers. The Snap360 is an electronically controlled turntable intended for automatic, time-lapse capture of pictures in a full 360 degree circle. The Snap360 features the renowned DigiSnap 2800 controller, a high torque stepper motor, and a high capacity battery pack. The DigiSnap 2800 synchronizes turntable rotation with the shutter release on a wide range of cameras, including the Nikon Coolpix series of digital cameras, and a great number of film and digital SLR models, making capture of rotating image sequences as easy as a flip of a switch! There are several photographic applications for which the Snap360 is particularly suited. These markets have been hampered in the past due to the need for a skilled photographer to set up and operate the equipment. The Snap360 removes that limitation… for instance, once configured, any of your real-estate agents can instantly set up a tripod in the middle of a room, turn on the Snap360, and a minute later, have collected a set of images that can be converted into a virtual tour! Each element of the Snap360 was designed at Harbortronics for high quality, low cost, and flexibility. The turntable provides a solid platform for more than 50 pounds of cameras and accessories, and requires no camera specific mounting brackets. The Snap360 price is currently only $1185, hardly more than some light weight manual turntables!

11-02-2003

Professional-Grade Photo Recovery with ImageRecall 2.0 PhotoPlus—New York, NY—October 30, 2003— FlashFixers announces the U.S. availability of ImageRecall 2.0, a professional-grade photo recovery program that retrieves lost images, data and sound files from flash memory cards. According to the Photo Marketing Association, digital camera sales are expected to outpace sales of film-based cameras in 2003. This increasing popularity can be attributed to recent improvements in picture resolution that make it possible to take digital photos that are the same quality as film. Unlike film however, digital images are subject to losses from accidental deletions, reformatting and random corruptions. With more dependence than ever on digital film for keepsake images and professional shoots, losing digital pictures can be devastating. ImageRecall 2.0 offers advanced features not found in any other single software package. This includes CD Writer that allows users to save recovered photos directly to CD; Card Check that tests memory cards for errors; and Secure Erase that completely deletes all data from memory cards. ImageRecall 2.0 is supported in North America by FlashFixers, a professional photo recovery service recommended by many major digital camera and card manufacturers. ImageRecall 2.0 will be available in November from the FlashFixers Web site in both Mac and PC versions. ImageRecall can be downloaded as either a free trial or a full version for $39.95, and can also be ordered on CD. A commercial license, for photo retailers and service labs that perform occasional photo recovery, is priced at $129.95. This fee includes FlashFixers service discounts and other benefits.

11-01-2003

More New Camera Reviews Posted Nearing the end of new cameras to review for 2003, just posted is our Fuji FinePix F700 review, the first digicam with Fuji's 4th generation SuperCCD-SR imager and a 3x optical zoom. Next up is a pair of super-compact digicams starting with the Casio Exilim EX-Z4 Zoom review, a 4-megapixel 3x zoom camera with a big 2" LCD but still small enough to hide behind a credit card. And the slightly fatter Kyocera Finecam S5R, a 5-megapixel 3x zoom camera with a fast 3fps continuous capture mode and a short shutter lag time.

October 2003 News

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