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September 2003

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Adobe Creative Suite
Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite
Canon EOS Digital Rebel SLR
Canon i860 Photo Printer
Canon i900D Photo Printer
Canon i960 Photo Printer
Canon SD10 Digital ELPH
Canon Powershot A80
Canon i860 Photo Printer
Canon i900D Photo Printer
Canon i960 Photo Printer
Canon SD10 Digital ELPH
Kyocera Finecam S5R
Kyocera Finecam SL300R
Minolta Dimage A1
Minolta Dimage Z1
Olympus C-5060 Wide Zoom
Pentax Optio 33WR
Pentax Optio 555
Pentax Optio S4
Toshiba PDR-5300
UMAX Astrapix 670 & 630


August 2003 News Index
July 2003 News Index
June 2003 News Index


Steve's "Best of 2003" Camera Picks
PMA 2003 Special Report

Sunday Morning Photographer
(A weekly column by Mike Johnston)





09-29-2003

Canon i900D Printer Review Posted

Just posted is our Canon i900D printer review. This is Canon's latest photo "print station" with the ability to print directly from memory cards, PictBridge or Bubblejet Direct compatible digicams. The i900D has built-in card slots for CF / CF2, SM, MS (not MS Pro), SD, MMC and Microdrives. xD-Picture Card, MS Duo and MiniSD can be used with optional adapters. Printing without a computer is easy thanks to the onboard 2" color LCD for preview, editing and menu selections. Super photo quality prints are output with 4800dpi print resolution and 2-picoliter size ink droplets.




09-29-2003

All-New Adobe Creative Suite Delivers Platform for The Future of Design and Publishing


SAN JOSE, Calif. — Sept. 29, 2003 (NASDAQ: ADBE) — Adobe Systems Incorporated, the leader in network publishing, today unveiled the Adobe® Creative Suite, a new software product that combines new full-version upgrades of Adobe Photoshop® CS, Adobe Illustrator® CS, Adobe InDesign® CS, and Adobe GoLive® CS, incorporates Acrobat® 6.0 Professional, and introduces the innovative Version Cue™ file version manager. The all- new Adobe Creative Suite is a complete design environment that gives today's creative professionals everything they need to create and publish content to print and the Web faster, more easily, and more efficiently than ever.

Read the full Adobe press release.




09-29-2003

Olympus C-5060 Wide Zoom - Body of a Compact Digital Camera with the Soul of an SLR

Olympus C-5060 Zoom

See our Olympus C-5060 Wide Zoom First Look

Melville, New York, September 29, 2003 - With the release of the new C-5060 Wide Zoom, Olympus America introduces a high performance digital camera with an incredible wide- angle lens (27mm to 110mm, f2.8 - f8.0) that takes a photographer's creations to a whole new dimension. A state-of-the-art camera with 14x total seamless wide-angle zoom (4x optical + 3.5x digital) and fast processing time, the C-5060 Wide Zoom is ideal for advanced digital photographers seeking full manual and advanced photographic control typically found only in advanced SLR and Rangefinder film cameras.

Read the full Olympus C-5060 Wide Zoom press release.




09-28-2003

Kodak Responds to Sept. 25 Investor's Meeting and the Resulting Reports and Rumors

Friday, September 26, 2003- Eastman Kodak Company intends to maintain its robust participation and leading position in every segment of the traditional film photography market - consumer, advanced amateur and professional. The company's recent discussion with investors acknowledged the ongoing decline of the worldwide film market and identified a variety of growth opportunities in the digital arena - opportunities Kodak is pursuing aggressively. It also made plain that, for some time to come, Kodak's film and paper business will remain the company's largest source of revenue and cash.

That means Kodak will continue to offer world-class photographic films, chemicals and papers, both to make money to fuel its new business ventures and to satisfy the still-substantial - if shrinking - customer demand for them. Explicit in the strategy presented to investors is a strong, ongoing commitment to meet the unique requirements of a diverse family of film photographers - from snapshooters recording family memories, to hobbyists expanding their skills, to working professionals who earn a living from the images they take.

Far from opting out of the traditional photography segment, Kodak is managing this portion of its business to generate the most value possible for itself and its vast customer base. Over the last two years alone, the company has introduced no fewer than eight new or upgraded films, and a variety of durable, high-quality papers for the consumer and professional markets. R&D spending continues. In the midst of digital's growing popularity, the company recognizes that most pictures today are still captured on film. Kodak fully intends to serve that sizeable market and offer quality photographic films, chemicals and papers for years to come.




09-25-2003

Fred Miranda's Shadow Recovery Pro Plugin

Fred Miranada has just released his new professional Shadow Recovery Pro Plugin (SR Pro). It's designed for use with all digital cameras and scanned film and is compatible with Elements 1 and 2, as well as Photoshop 6, 7 or higher (PC and Mac). Since highlights are difficult to recover when not exposed properly, I have developed this plugin to focus on recovering the hidden shadow detail. SR Pro replaces lengthy and complicated masking techniques, speeding your workflow and leaving you with natural and reliable results.

SR Pro features 12 intensity levels as well as many options to reduce shadow noise including:

  1. Normal: It runs shadow recovery without applying any shadow noise reduction.
  2. Color: The plugin runs the desired shadow recovery level and also reduces Chroma (Color) noise from shadow areas. Some digital cameras produce color noise in the shadow areas and this option should be used in these situations.
  3. Color + Luma: It runs the desired shadow recovery level while reducing chroma and luma noise. This setting is great when used with higher ISO, long exposure files.

    Also, a new Canon 10D Profiler package is now available. It includes two (2) Photoshop actions and two (2) custom ICC profiles. Canon 10D LPbatch 16-bit (Linear Pro Batch) For 10D RAW files converted to 16-bit linear TIFF files. Make sure your third party RAW conversion software offers linear output like Canon's own RAW converter or Breezebrowser software (works with BB v2.7b) Canon 10D Non-linear 16-bit. For regular 10D files being JPEG straight from the camera or JPEG / TIFF files converted from RAW. (Works with all RAW conversion software or with files straight from the camera)

    To find out more about these and other available actions and plugins check out Fred's software page.




09-24-2003

SMaL Camera Announces OEM Ultra-Pocket 3 Kit

Next Generation Rapid Development Kit to Enable World's Thinnest 1.3-Megapixel Digital Cameras with Color LCD Display

Cambridge, MA - September 24, 2003 - SMaL Camera Technologies, a developer of electronic imaging solutions and enabler of award-winning super-thin digital still cameras, announced today the availability of its new Ultra-Pocket® 3 rapid development kit for 1.3-megapixel credit card cameras with color TFT display. The Ultra-Pocket 3 kit enables OEMs to deliver the world's thinnest, most portable and most fashionable digital cameras with unparalleled long battery life and high dynamic range to their customers quickly and affordably.

Read the SMaL press release.




09-24-2003

Delkin eFilm 400Mb/s FireWire CF Reader/Writer

Poway CA, September 23, 2003 Delkin Devices Inc., maker of premium quality eFilm memory cards and other innovative products for camera stores worldwide, is now shipping a FireWire Reader/Writer for CompactFlash (CF) digital memory cards. FireWire is one of today’s fastest interface protocols, transferring data at a lighting-fast speed of 400Mb/s. Delkin’s new external tabletop eFilm FireWire Reader/Writer (Reader-24) is uniquely designed for high-end digital photography enthusiasts and professionals who want to dramatically speed workflow. The full contents of high-resolution images from CompactFlash Type I, Type II and Microdrives can be quickly downloaded to a computer in seconds, and you can write back to the card as well.

The Reader-24 easily connects to most computer's FireWire ports (6-pin FireWire, not 4-pin) and features a robust hi-impact non-skid design. The Reader-24 is housed in a sturdy and sleek black plastic shell complete with stylish gray rubber footpads. The removable FireWire cable and small portable size give you flexibility in creating a custom workstation that’s stylish, reliable and convenient. The Reader-24 is plug-and-play and works with any PC or Mac with a FireWire port.




09-23-2003

NAPP to Open PhotoshopWorld Expo to Public, Providing Free Day of Training

TAMPA, Fla. - Sept. 23, 2003 - The National Association of Photoshop Professionals will open the second day of its PhotoshopWorld tech expo to the public, providing hands-on training, lectures, product demonstrations, and prizes to an expected 5,000 graphic designers, Web designers, and digital photographers in the greater Miami area. Doors will be open Wednesday, October 1, 2003 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Representatives from Apple, Nikon, Quark, Pantone, Corel, Extensis, and nik Multimedia will give 30- to 60-minute training sessions on their hottest products in the expo theater. Adobe Systems will feature a 30-station lab equipped with top-of-the-line computers from Apple and Dell and will give hands-on training on their new Photoshop technology. Wacom will give hands-on tablet training in their booth and Photoshop experts will answer questions about Photoshop techniques at the Help Desk.

The PhotoshopWorld Conference & Expo offers three days of intense training by the industry's top Photoshop instructors. Admission to the expo is $20 at the door or FREE if you pre-register at www.photoshopworld.com/ticket. Conference attendees and press can also visit the expo the day prior on Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 1:00 p.m. ­ 6:00 p.m. For more information or to register, visit http://www.photoshopworld.com or call 800-738-8513.




09-21-2003

Canon i960 Printer Review Posted

How do they do it? How does Canon keep making these printers faster and faster... I didn't think anything could beat the i950 but I stand corrected because they have. The new i960 Photo Printer literally blows out 4x6" borderless prints in an average of just 35 seconds. Want a borderless 8.5x 11" print, no problem, it will be sitting on the output tray in about a minute and a half. The i960 has both a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and a regular USB 1.1 connector plus a front-mounted Direct Print port for PictBridge printing without a computer. A new 4x6" paper tray lets you print photos without first removing the letter size media. The best just keeps on getting better!




09-19-2003

Olympus Celebrates Ferrari Scuderia F1 Sponsorship With Limited-Edition Ferrari Digital Model 2003


Olympus Ferrari Edition Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. is pleased to announce the introduction of the Ferrari DIGITAL MODEL 2003, a special limited-edition model developed to celebrate Olympus sponsorship of the Ferrari Scuderia Formula One Racing Team. It is the first and only digital camera in the world currently sanctioned by Ferrari S.p.A. Only 10,000 units will be produced, of which 1,000 will be sold in Japan.The camera will be sold by advance order only.

The Ferrari DIGITAL MODEL 2003 is based on the stylish and all-weather µ-20 DIGITAL (Stylus Digital 400). It is designed to reflect the beauty and quality that are hallmarks of Ferrari craftsmanship, and is the first digital camera in the world to be officially sanctioned by the Ferrari organization. The body of the camera is finished in distinctive Ferrari Red, and the lens barrier is adorned with the world-famous "Cavallino Rampante - Prancing Horse" logo featured on Ferrari cars and F1 racing machines. When the camera's power is switched on, the built-in color LCD monitor displays the Ferrari name and logo, as well as an image of a Ferrari F1 racing machine.

HOW TO PLACE ADVANCE ORDERS - In Japan, the Ferrari DIGITAL MODEL 2003 will be available only from Olympus AVS Co., Ltd. by placing an advance order as described below. (If the number of orders received exceeds 1,000 units, a lottery will be held.) Shipment of cameras is scheduled for mid-November 2003.
Online Orders Orders can be placed at the Olympus website between October 10 and October 30, 2003, via a special form provided for that purpose.

Read the Olympus Japan press release.




09-19-2003

Minolta Posts Updated DiMAGE Scanner Software

Minolta Corporation has posted an updated DiMAGE Scan driver software (version 1.1.1) supporting Minolta's new DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400, DiMAGE Scan Multi PRO, DiMAGE Scan Elite II, DiMAGE Scan Multi, and DiMAGE Scan Multi II film scanners. This updated DiMAGE Scan driver software can be downloaded for free from Minolta's web site.

Available for Windows and Macintosh (including Mac OS X v10.2.6) operating systems, DiMAGE Scan v.1.1.1 now features a histogram display in the Exposure Control Tab for the DiMAGE Scan Multi PRO, DiMAGE Scan Elite II, DiMAGE Scan Multi and DiMAGE Scan Multi II. Additional functions for DiMAGE Scan Elite II include:

  • Easy Scan Utility screen is improved.
  • Adjust-image function is added to Easy Scan Utility. (This function is disabled when Digital ROC function is selected.)
  • Print function is added to Easy Scan Utility.



09-19-2003

Canon EOS Digital Rebel SLR Now Shipping

I've been getting reports from dealers and customers all over the country who have told me that the new Canon EOS Digital Rebel is now arriving at the dealers and being shipped out to those that were already on pre-order lists. I've even received emails from a few very lucky buyers that just walked into a store and then walked out with a new Digital Rebel. Even though Canon is making these cameras in numbers unheard of for dSLR production we still expect this camera to be short in supply for some time to come. I've said it before and I'll say it again - Canon is going to sell a ton of these cameras. If you want one then don't hesitate, just go for it!

Check dealers and pricing here. Remember that the $899 camera outfits do -not- include the 18-55mm zoom and that it can -only- be purchased with the camera, you cannot order it later as a separate item.




09-18-2003

DDI Software Offers Printer ICC Color Profiles

Digital Domain, Inc. has begun to develop and sell profiles for various printers/media and is making these profiles available for sale at $25 each at their "Printer Profiles" web site.

They have started with some of the most popular photo inkjets and media, and will be expanding the list of available profiles in the near future. To quote Mike Chaney:

    "We feel that offering quality ICC profiles along with solid documentation fills a gap that currently exists in color management, allowing customers to realize the benefits of ICC color management without requiring the use of additional hardware / software / time in creating their own custom profiles. Our printer profiles were created with our own Profile Prism software and tested/validated prior to release. While profiling tools like Profile Prism may be used to create custom profiles for any printer/paper and offer a more robust solution, pre-made profiles open the door to color management for those who do not have a scanner or do not wish to spend the time profiling on their own."



09-18-2003

PCMCIA Launches First Release of ExpressCard Standard for the PC Card Industry

Industry Coalition Develops New Technology that Offers Improved Performance in a Smaller Footprint for Next-Generation Mobile and Desktop PCs


Expresscard

Intel Developers Forum--San Jose , Sept. 16, 2003 — PCMCIA, a leading technology trade association, today announced the release of Version 1.0 of its ExpressCard TM standard for modular expansion for mobile and desktop systems. Formerly codenamed NEWCARD, ExpressCard technology brings the proven reliability and convenience of the PC Card in a smaller form factor while offering faster performance and improved ease of use.

Read the PCMCIA press release (Adobe pdf).




09-16-2003

Kyocera Finecam SL300R - World's Thinnest 3x Zoom Camera

Kyocera Finecam SL300R

Somerset, NJ - Kyocera Optics, Inc., an imaging industry leader, announces the new Kyocera Finecam SL300R, the world's thinnest 3x optical zoom digital camera. While sleek in size at approx. 15mm thin, Kyocera’s cool new digital features a unique swivel lens for obtaining images from virtually any vantage point. The 3.2 Megapixel Finecam SL300R offers a solution for digital camera fans who have been frustrated by "missing the moment" due to the combination of the shutter speed lag time and slow "click to click" speed. Utilizing Kyocera’s new RTUNE Rapid Tuning Technology, the SL300R offers the World's fastest Continuous Capture Mode. In combination with virtually non-existent lag time of 0.07 second, it can capture images at an incredible unlimited 3.5 frames per second! And this is at 3.2 Megapixel resolution of 2048 x 1536. This dynamic feature removes the restrictions imposed by other competitive digital products. The Finecam SL300R is only limited by the size of the SD memory card in terms of how many images can be consecutively captured.

The street price of the Finecam SL300R is $399.00 and the camera will be shipping in October.

Read the entire SL300R press release.




09-16-2003

Kyocera Finecam S5R - World's Fastest Digital Continuous Capture Rate


Somerset, NJ - Kyocera Optics, Inc., an imaging industry leader, offers a solution for digital camera fans who have been frustrated by "missing the moment" due to the combination of the shutter speed lag time and slow "click to click" speed. The company’s new 5 Megapixel Finecam S5R with RTUNE Rapid Tuning Technology offers the World's fastest Continuous Capture Mode. In combination with a virtually non-existent lag time of 0.07 seconds, it can capture images at an incredible unlimited 3 frames per second. This dynamic new feature removes the restrictions imposed by other competitive digital products. The Finecam SR5 is only limited by the size of the SD memory card in terms of how many images can be consecutively captured.

The street price for the Kyocera Finecam S5R is $549.00 and the camera is shipping now.

Read the entire S5R press release.




09-15-2003

Nikon USA Announces Pricing for D2H SLR, D2H Accessories and New Nikkor Lenses

Nikon D2H

Nikon USA today announced the following suggested list pricing for the new high-speed D2H SLR, D2H accessories, NikonCapture 4 software and the three new Nikkor lenses:

    D2H Digital SLR Camera Set............US $3,999.00
    [Supplied with D2H Body, EN-EL4 Rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery, MH-21 Quick Charger, BL-1 Battery Chamber Cover, EG-D2 Audio Video Cable, BM-3 LCD Monitor Cover, AN-D2H Strap, Nikon View Software, Nikon Capture Trial Version Software]

    EH-6 AC Adapter for D2H................US $109.00

    Nikon Capture 4 Software..............US $140.00
    [Essential software for achieving the Full Power of NEF among the following Nikon models: D1, D1X, D1H, D2H, D100 and Coolpix 5700 and Coolpix 5000 with firmware V1.7. Also works with JPEG and TIFF file formats. Performance will vary slightly among the compatible models.]

    WT-1A Wireless Transmitter Set for D2H....US $449.00
    [Includes WA-S1 Standard Antenna (approx. range: 100 feet) and BL-2 Battery Chamber Cover]

    WA-E1 Extended Range Antenna..............US $119.00
    [Approx. 490 feet range]

    AF DX 10.5mm f/2.8G IF-ED Fisheye-Nikkor....US $780.00
    [Supplied with CL-0715 Soft Case, Lens Cap]

    AF-S DX 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED Zoom-Nikkor...US $1,650.00
    [Supplied with HB-31 Bayonet Flower Shaped Lens Hood and CL-1120 Soft Case]

    AF-S VR 200-400mm f/4G IF-ED Zoom-Nikkor...US $6,700.00
    [Supplied with HK-30 Slip-On Lens Hood and CL-L2 Ballistic Nylon case]

    SB-800 AF Speedlight.....................US $420.00
    [Supplied with SD-800 Quick Recycling Battery Pack, SJ-800 Color Filter Set (TN-A1 Tungsten Balancing and FL-G1 Fluorescent Balancing), AS-19 Speedlight Stand, SS-800 Soft Case and SW-10H Diffusion Dome.]




09-15-2003

Five-Megapixel PDR-5300 Is Toshiba's Most Advanced Digital Camera To Date

Toshiba PDR-5300


NEW YORK, September 15, 2003 (Digital Focus) - Toshiba Imaging Systems, a Division of Toshiba American Information Systems, Inc., today announced its most advanced digital still camera to date, the PDR-5300 boasts high level features such as a 5.0 megapixel CCD image sensor, a powerful 3X optical zoom lens with a versatility-enhancing wide aperture range, state-of-the-art noise reduction technology, user-selectable shutter speeds (8 seconds to 1/1500 second), plus a full suite of optional manual controls, all working together to provide excellent photographic results in a variety of lighting conditions. It is expected to ship later this month with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $399.

Read the entire PDR-5300 press release.




09-15-2003

UMAX New AstraPix 670 and AstraPix 630 3.3 Megapixel Digital Still and Video Cameras

DALLAS, TX., Sept. 15, 2003 -- UMAX Technologies, Inc. today announced the elegantly designed AstraPix 670 and the sleek AstraPix 630 for experienced and beginning digital photographers. The AstraPix 670 and 630 offer features usually found in more expensive cameras, including the ability to capture both still images and video with audio, a 3.3 megapixel CCD for crisper, more vibrant pictures, and a built-in microphone and speaker for audio narration and playback. The AstraPix 670 also features a 3x optical zoom for accurate, detailed close ups. These exciting new cameras are available now with an MSRP of $229 AstraPix 670 and $179 AstraPix 630.

Read the entire UMAX press release.




09-12-2003

More New Digicam Reviews Posted

Three new digicam reviews just posted:

    The Panasonic DMC-LC43, a compact 4-megapixel with a 3x Leica zoom lens that's not only a great buy, it's also a great little camera. Not long ago we reviewed its nearly identical 3-megapixel sibling, the DMC-LC33, and found it to be an excellent camera too.

    Another good compact 4-megapixel camera is the Casio QV-R40. Housed in a durable and stylish aluminum case, the QV-R40 has a fast "turn on" time and a very little shutter delay time. Like the LC43, the QV-R40 is priced righ too, check it out.

    And last but not least is the Fuji FinePix A310 with 3-megapixel resolution and a 3x zoom lens. It's the first affordable point-and-shoot camera with Fuji's fourth-generation Super CCD HR (High Resolution) sensor technology.




09-12-2003

BreezeBrowser v2.7b Now Supports New Canon EOS Digital Rebel RAW Files

Breeze Systems has today announced BreezeBrowser v2.7b with support for the new Canon EOS 300D/Digital Rebel including raw conversion, focus point overlay display and shooting data display. Version 2.7b adds the ability to view Fuji and Minolta raw files and includes a new flashing highlight option for showing over-exposed areas in photos.

BreezeBrowser v2.7b also includes a new tool which will appeal to Canon PowerShot users frustrated by the small preview image stored in raw files. The tool replaces the preview image embedded in the raw file with a JPEG of user definable size and quality greatly enhancing the viewing of raw files.

Breeze Systems has two very special offers on software bundles purchased before the end of September 2003, details can be found on Breeze Systems' website.




09-12-2003

Glass Lantern Releases PocketLoupe LE for Pocket PC Devices Running Windows Mobile 2003

Washington, DC, 12 September, 2003: Glass Lantern, LLC announces the release of PocketLoupe LE, a less expensive version of PocketLoupe that supports only JPEG images. In addition, both PocketLoupe v1.6 and Pixfer v1.4, which make a Pocket PC into both a JPEG/RAW file viewer and an image transfer/storage device, are updated for Windows Mobile 2003. New functionality includes support for Olympus ORF files (tiny thumbnail only) and improved reliability.

PocketLoupe allows digital photographers to display and evaluate the thumbnails embedded in Nikon NEF, Canon CRW, Fuji RAF, Olympus ORF (tiny thumbnail only), and Minolta MRW raw files, as well as standard JPEG images. To check for sharpness and detail, images can be zoomed and panned directly with the stylus. With one tap, PocketLoupe displays information about the image including the image dimensions, time and date the photograph was taken, and additional data such as exposure, ISO setting, and focal length, depending on the camera.

Glass Lantern Pixfer allows photographers to efficiently transfer digital images from flash cards to hard disks using a Pocket PC. Specifically designed to handle large digital camera files, it typically transfers data over twice as fast as the built-in Pocket PC File Explorer application. Battery life is extended through options such as turning off the Pocket PC screen during transfer. Any storage technology that connects to the Pocket PC as a standard storage card can be used with PocketLoupe and Pixfer, including SD, Compact Flash, PCMCIA, USB drives and other formats with the correct Pocket PC.




09-12-2003

Canon's Powershot Digital ELPH SD10 - World's Smallest 4 Megapixel Digital Cameras


LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Sept. 12, 2003 - Placed in a purse or stashed in a clutch, nestled in a breast pocket or tucked in a tux, Canon's new PowerShot Digital ELPH SD10 cameras get the focus and set the (fashion) scene for imaging excellence and stylish elegance. These new generation miniature miracles reaffirm the old adage that there is no such thing as being too thin. Tipping the scales at a diminutive 3.5 ounces and measuring a scant 3.6 x 1.9 x 0.7 inches, the new PowerShot Digital ELPH SD10 debuts as the world's smallest four megapixel digital camera.

Carrying a suggested retail price of $449,* the Canon PowerShot Digital ELPH SD10 cameras will be available in stores around mid-October.

Read the entire Canon SD10 press release.




09-10-2003

Zenon MagneFlash 57 Review Posted


Just posted is our Zenon MagneFlash 57 review of this unique flat-panel slave flash. Our friends in the U.K. have come up with this small and portable flash for digicams that will dramatically improve your closeup, product or head and shoulders portrait shots. It works wirelessly with most digicams via its built-in infrared slave sensor. This flash offers diffused and even lighting like you get from a soft-box and has its own NiMH rechargeable battery that's good for about 250 shots per charge. Check it out.




09-08-2003

Two Fuji Entry-Level Digicam Reviews Posted

Just posted are reviews of a pair of entry-level priced digicams from Fujifilm. These two cameras are just about identical physically with 3x optical zooms and differ only in their maximum image resolution. The FinePix A210 has a 3-megapixel imager and delivers up to 2048 x 1536 size images. You can make up to 8x10" size photo quality prints. Both cameras are powered by a pair of standard AA batteries and store image data on the new xD-Picture Card media. The FinePix A205 has a 2-megapixel imager and delivers up to 1600 x 1200 size images for 4x6" or 5x7" photo quality prints. These are economically priced cameras that will get anybody into digital photography without putting too big of a dent in your wallet.




09-08-2003

Canon Debuts Fast and Affordable i900D and i960 Photo Printers Featuring Six Color Printing

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Sept. 8, 2003 – Two new six color photo printers from Canon – the versatile i900D Photo Printer and the ultra fine, ultra fast i960 Photo Printer – are taking digital print technology to the next level. Beneath their sleek industrial- inspired lines, these two photo printers deliver up to 4800 x 1200 dpi resolution* and borderless 4x6 inch professional quality photo prints as quickly as 75 seconds on the i900D and an incredible 37 seconds on the i960 photo printer.

Read our comprehensive Canon i960 review.

Read our comprehensive Canon i900D review.

Shipping in October, the i900D and i960 printers carry an estimated street price of $249.99 and $199.99 respectively.

Read the entire Canon i960/i900D press release.




09-08-2003

Canon's New Powerhouse i860 Desktop Photo Printer Creates Realistic Photos And Crisp, Quality Text

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Sept. 8, 2003 – Fast, flexible and photographically fine, Canon’s new i860 Desktop Photo Printer is also a super-efficient all-purpose printer that achieves up to 4800 x 1200 color dpi* and speeds of up to 23 pages-per-minute** (ppm) in black text and up to 16 ppm in color**. The successor to the multi-award winning Canon i850 printer, the i860 printer features ContrastPLUS, an advanced five-color ink system that is the next evolutionary step in digital printing.

Shipping in mid-September, the Canon i860 Desktop Photo Printer carries an estimated street price of $149.99.

Read the entire Canon i860 press release.




09-08-2003

Photo-i Reviews New Canon i865 Photo Printer

The folks over at the Photo-i website in the U.K. have posted information about Canon Europe's new i965, i905D and i865 photo printers. They've also started an interactive review of the i865 printer, you'll find it linked from their main page. The i865 is the successor to the popular i850 and now has an additional black ink for higher contrast prints. As with all the new Canons it's PictBridge compatible for PC-less printing from many new digicams. New is a separate paper tray for 4x6" media and the ability to print on compatible CD/DVD media.




09-05-2003

Nikon Approves Delkin's eFilm Pro Cards

Poway CA, Sept. 4, 2003 -- Delkin Devices Inc., maker of premium quality eFilm memory cards and other innovative products for camera stores worldwide, recently received Nikon’s approval of Delkin’s high-speed eFilm PRO Series CompactFlash (CF) cards for operation with Nikon’s SLR digital cameras. Nikon’s testing of memory cards for camera compatibility has resulted in the sanctioning of just two additional third-party vendors along with Delkin. The eFilm PRO card has generated a bevy of positive worldwide press and has quickly become the memory card of choice among professional photographers. eFilm PRO cards are built with superior technology and are regarded as among the fastest CF cards for high-end SLR cameras. Capacities range from 128MB to the unique “Straight to CD-R Transfer” capacity of 640MB.

Nikon posts their approved CF compatibility findings at their website at www.nikonusa.com as part of the Digital Knowledge Database. Nikon currently lists the eFilm PRO Card as approved for such top of the line SLR cameras as the D1X, D100, and D1H. Memory Cards not listed by Nikon are not guaranteed to work with Nikon cameras. These Nikon models and other high-end SLR digital cameras have the ability to process pictures more quickly and not all CF memory cards are optimized like the eFilm PRO card to take advantage of these advanced features. The eFilm PRO cards are solid-state and designed to be fast and durable for extensive shooting in the most extreme conditions.

To achieve this standard, Delkin has developed an innovative new technology called DQD (patent pending). DQD is a design and quality verification process that improves the reliability of CF cards. The eFilm PRO cards are the only product on the market currently with DQD technology. It is innovative ideas like DQD that enable Delkin to have the best warranty in the business. All eFilm PRO cards, as well as Delkin’s consumer line of Digital Memory Cards, are backed with a lifetime warranty and are sold at independent camera stores worldwide, and at Delkin's website.




09-04-2003

Canon EOS Digital Rebel First Look Review Posted

Canon EOS Digital Rebel, photo (c) 2003 Steve's Digicams

Posted for your perusal - our Canon EOS Digital Rebel First Look.

The new and affordably priced EOS "Digital Rebel" SLR will be available in a few weeks so start doing your homework now, check out our comprehensive First Look complete with sample photos - it's a winner at just $999!




09-03-2003

New 10X Super-Zoom Camera Reviews Posted

I just posted a duo of new Super-Zoom camera reviews. Here are two reasonably priced digicams that feature 10X super-zoom lenses, electronic viewfinders and very good image quality. First we have the new Kodak EasyShare DX6490, a 4-megapixel camera with a large 2.2-inch color LCD and resolute EVF viewfinder. It uses SD type memory cards and comes with a docking cradle and rechargeable Li-ion battery pack. And next up is the new Fujifilm FinePix S5000, with a 3-megapixel SuperCCD capable of making up to 6-megapixel size images. It uses xD-Picture cards and has a very nice color LCD and a resolute EVF viewfinder. Both of these cameras will get you extra-close to the action for those frame-filling pictures that only a long focal length 10x zoom lens can capture.




09-03-2003

Pentax Expands Five Megapixel Digital Camera Line With Faster, More Responsive Optio555


Pentax Optio 555

ENGLEWOOD, Colorado (September 3, 2003)…PENTAX U.S.A., Inc. proudly presents the Optio555 5.0 megapixel digital camera. A successor to the popular Optio550, which recently received an Editor's Choice award from PC Magazine, the Optio555 offers exceptionally compact and light weight design that is ideal for use anywhere.

PENTAX maximized the responsiveness of the Optio555 including reduced lag time so the camera is instantly ready when the power is turned on. In addition, a single touch of the playback button brings up recorded images and just a touch of the shutter button is all that is required to return to shooting. With enhanced operation capability and maximized responsiveness, the Optio555 allows satisfying shots to be taken with extreme ease. Add a powerful 5X optical zoom (4X digital zoom for a combined 20X total zoom), and the superb clarity of 5.0 effective megapixels, the Optio555 offers extreme versatility with superb detail and accuracy.

Read the entire Optio 555 press release.




09-03-2003

Second Generation Pentax Optio S Now Offers Four Megapixels in Same, Small Size


Pentax Optio S4

ENGLEWOOD, Colorado (September 3, 2003)…The innovative manufacturer that introduced a popular digital camera tucked inside a breath mint tin, has introduced a second generation. PENTAX U.S.A., Inc. announced the launch of the Optio S4. Sporting the tiny dimensions and light weight of its predecessor, the Optio S4 boasts a hefty 4.23 effective megapixels, a 3X zoom lens, and a variety of features including a large, easy-to-use manual control playback button.

Read the entire Optio S4 press release.




09-03-2003

Pentax Optio 33WR Weather Resistant Digital Camera


Pentax Optio 33WR

ENGLEWOOD, Colorado (September 3, 2003)…Just add water. That's the best way to enjoy the latest digital camera from PENTAX U.S.A., Inc. The Optio 33WR is a robust and durable 3.2 megapixel, 2.8X zoom lens digital camera. With a JIS Class 7 water resistance rating, the Optio 33WR remains watertight even when the camera is rinsed, splashed or submersed in water.* The Optio 33WR is the perfect companion for outdoor photography in rain, snow or a day at the beach.

Read the entire Optio 33WR press release.




09-01-2003

New Sandisk 8-in-1, Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Reader Accepts All Media Card Formats


September 1, 2003 -- SanDisk Corporation today introduced the SanDisk Hi-Speed USB 2.0 ImageMate 8-in-1 card reader. Designed for consumers who rely on a variety of flash memory cards for their digital cameras, PDAs, MP3 players or other electronics gadgets, the new ImageMate is targeted at consumers who want a single device to transfer pictures, digital video or any type of data at very fast speeds. The new SanDisk 8-in-1 reader was introduced at the IFA Consumer Electronics trade show where SanDisk is demonstrating products in Hall 3.2, Booth 201.

The new multi-card reader has four slots that accept all industry-standard storage cards including CompactFlash Type I and II cards, SmartMedia, SD card, MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO and the xD-Picture Card. The four slots can be used simultaneously to transfer data between individual cards and/or the computer.

SanDisk's new ImageMate 8-in-1 card uses Hi-Speed USB 2.0, a technology that is capable of data transfer rates of up to 480 megabits a second (Mbps) compared with a maximum transfer rate of 12Mbps with USB 1.1. The new reader is backward compatible and works with computers that have a USB 1.1 port.

The new reader has a suggested retail price of $39.99 and will be available in September. All SanDisk ImageMate readers are true "plug and play" due to USB Mass Storage Class (MSC) compliance when used with Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Mac OS 10.1.2+. The readers are fully compatible with Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP and Mac OS 9.1.x+, Mac OS X v10.1.2+ and Mac OS X v10.2.





August 2003 News Steve's
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