A-DIGITAL-EYE

(21ST CENTURY DIGITAL CAMERAS, PHOTO PRINTERS, PAPERS, CAMCORDERS, IMAGING SOFTWARE, DIGITAL EQUIPMENT, REVIEWS AND MORE!)

Volume 16 July - August, 2002

(Last update Sunday August 25, 2002 - 11:00 am pst)

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  1. NEWS BRIEFS, SITE UPDATE & NEWS/REVIEWS AROUND THE WEB (08/25/02)
    Sharp announces it is entering the digital camera market with 2 new cameras
    Microsoft Advances Digital Imaging with the Introduction of Picture It! Digital Image Pro
    Worldwide Wireless Imaging Users Forecast to Reach 160 Million by 2007 According to InfoTrends Research Group
    Electric Fuel's Instant Power(TM) Batteries to be Sold in Over 1,200 Ritz Camera stores
    New Technology Xe847(R) Filter Produces Digital Photos and Video That Appear as Seen Through the Human Eye
    Applied Science Fiction -ASF- Announces First New York City Retail Test of Digital PIC Dry Film Processing Technology
  2. NEWS AND WEB SITE UPDATES (08/21/02 & 08/22/02)
    Ricoh Introduces The Caplio RR30 - A Revolutionary 3.24-Megapixel Digital Zoom Camera
    New Camera Reviews and News at other web sites
    Adobe announces New Elements 2.0 shipping
    Lexar 256 & 512mb SD Memory Cards Ship
    New Dazzle DVD Creation Station 200
    Epson USA announces 2 photo printers
    Kodak announces 2 digital cameras
  3. NIKON COOLPIX 5700 DISNEYLAND SAMPLE PICTURES POSTED (08/04/02)
  4. FUJI ANNOUNCES 5 NEW DIGICAMS USING NEW xD CARDS (08/01/02)
  5. QUICK UPDATES (07/30/02 & 08/01/02)
  6. QUICK UPDATES (07/30/02)
  7. OLYMPUS & FUJI DEVELOP NEW xD PICTURE MEMORY CARDS (07/30/02)
  8. NIKON COOLPIX 5700 NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE (07/28/02)
  9. NEW NIKON COOLPIX 4500 DISNEYLAND SAMPLES POSTED (07/28/02)
  10. NIKON COOLPIX 4500 DOWNTOWN DISNEYLAND FULL RES PIXS INDEX PAGE
  11. NIKON LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE DIGICAM TECH SUPPORT SITE & BRIEF NEWS (07/25/02)
  12. NIKON D100 PRODUCTION SAMPLES POSTED (07/23/02)
  13. BRIEF UPDATES (07/21/02)
  14. EPSON ANNOUNCES NEW "ULTIMATE" PHOTO PRINTER AT MAC WORLD (07/17/02)
  15. MACWORLD EXPO BEGINS TODAY IN NYC (07/17/02)
  16. CANON ANNOUNCES NEW PHOTO PRINTERS & PAPERS (07/16/02)
  17. ADOBE RELEASES IMPROVED PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 2.0 (07/16/02)
  18. GUIDELINES & TIPS FOR NEW DSLR OWNERS POSTED (07/15/02)
  19. WEEKEND NEWS BRIEFS (07/14/02)
  20. NIKON D100, COOLPIX 4500, CASIO EXILIM & FUJI S2 REVIEW LINKS (07/12/02)
  21. CANON D60 FIRMWARE UPGRADE POSTED (07/11/02)
  22. OLYMPUS ANNOUNCES NEW DIGITAL CAMERA PRICES (07/10/02)
  23. ARGUS ANNOUNCES 2 MEGAPIXEL CAMERA AT $149 (07/08/02)
  24. KODAK ANNOUNCES NEW LONGER LASTING BATTERY FOR DIGITAL CAMERAS (07/08/02)
  25. OLYMPUS AMERICA ANNOUNCES NEW $500 FULL FEATURED 4.0 MEGAPIXEL CAMERA (07/09/02)
  26. BRIEF UPDATES (07/03/02 - 07/06/02)
  27. NIKON D100 & CP 4500 NOW ON SALE AT RITZ (06/29/02)
  28. NIKON USA SETS MSRP ON D100 AT $2500 (06/26/02 & 06/27/02)
  29. NIKON ANNOUNCES PRICES FOR NEW COOLPIX CAMERAS (06/26/02)
  30. PC EXPO/TECHXNY TRADESHOW BEGINS TODAY IN NYC (06/25/02)
  31. HP ANNOUNCES NEW 6 INK 4800 DPI PHOTO PRINTER & MORE (06/25/02)
 
VOLUME 15 - MAY - JUNE, 2002
 
 
 
 

WEEKEND NEWS ROUNDUP (09/01/02)

We are back! We have been out of town for most of August due to a rare set of circumstances, except a few weekend days where we did manage to update the site on several occasions. Things should return back to normal with daily breaking news, including lots of big news here in September as things get very interesting for the upcoming Photokina show in Germany, the largest photography show in the world, held every other year. Right now we are in a 50/50 situation regarding our ability to attend the show. If we can work it out we will be there as we very much want to attend given the huge announcements that are coming!

We are updating the main news section all day today with a number of stories including details of the new Nikon Coolpix 4300 announced Friday morning, which we have been testing the past few days, and tonight there will be a major camera announcement at 9:00 pm pst which we have also been testing out already, so be sure to stay tuned as we have lots of info going up today!

We were among the first who reported last week the announcement of electronics giant Sharp to enter the digital still camera market with 3 and 4 megapixel CCD units. We first found the story buried in a press release announcing Sharp's intention to display new products at a dealers conference. We have since found the full press release on their web site at this link.

 

New EPSON Stylus C82 All-Purpose, Photo Quality Ink Jet Printer Creates Light Resistant, Water Proof Output For $149

Epson has announced a new 4 individual color ink all-purpose photo quality printer the Stylus C82, using their new long lasting DuraBrite pigment based inks at a price of just $149. The new printer has the ability to put down ink droplets in 6 different volume sizes including a small 3 picoliter unit at resolutions up to 5,760 by 1440 dpi, for very high quality text and photo results. The printer has new faster speeds and comes in a Wi-Fi version for those who need a wireless connection at $379. The Epson Stylus C82 is already shipping to major retail stores nationwide and replaces the Stylus C80.


Newly Enhanced Formula of EPSON DuraBrite Inks Offer Extreme Durability and Higher Level of Image Quality

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Aug. 26, 2002-- Advancing off the platforms of one of its most successful and popular products to date, Epson America is launching a new ink jet printer that provides even greater performance and value for home and small office customers. The new EPSON Stylus C82 takes the throne as Epson's new flagship, all-purpose ink jet printer, selling for $149 and offering customers several new technical advancements including improved formulas of Epson's long-lasting DuraBrite(TM) inks.

The Stylus C82 replaces the Stylus C80 and is Epson's fastest four-color desktop printer ever made, using a new high-speed Micro Piezo print head that delivers up to 22 pages per minute (ppm) in black and up to 11 ppm in color(1). This printer also takes advantage of a unique and highly advanced imaging technology known as Resolution Performance Management(TM) (RPM(TM)). This feature enables the Stylus C82 to place up to six different ink droplet sizes as small as three picoliters at resolution levels as high as 5,760 x 1,440 optimized dpi for sharper text, greater detail and brighter colors.

"This product is tailored especially for customers who demand the highest level of text and photo quality possible on plain or recyclable paper in addition to fast output, reliability and low cost of operation," said Steve Semos, product manager, consumer ink jet printers, Epson. "Once again, we've engineered a lot of new hardware to give customers industry-leading performance, but it's the advancements in our DuraBrite inks that really make it stand out like no other printer on the market."

Enhanced DuraBrite Inks -- Water-Resistant Prints that Last up to 80 Years(2)

Epson has engineered a more advanced formula of DuraBrite inks -- made exclusively for the Stylus C82. These pigment-based inks are designed to not only produce durable, detailed output on a variety of media, but also offer richer colors and even greater highlight and shadow detail than the previous formula used with the Stylus C80. Unlike prints from traditional dye-based inks, output from DuraBrite color and black inks can be submerged in water without the ink coming off the page. This feature is designed to give creators of fliers, menus, signs, postcards and almost any other printed output the ability to produce documents and images that will withstand damage caused by moisture-based threats such as rain, spills or people with wet hands.

DuraBrite inks also have a light-resistance rating of up to 80 years on certain specialty media and an unmatched 70-year(1) rating on plain paper, making it possible to safely place prints in areas where light would normally cause images to fade quickly. Bleed-through is reduced since EPSON DuraBrite inks rest on the surface of the paper, which is ideal for applications that require double-sided printing. This reduction in dot gain also makes it possible to create ink droplets on paper that are 30 percent smaller than dye-based ink, resulting in superior detail and sharpness.

The EPSON Stylus C82 includes four separate "snap-in/snap-out" ink cartridges to maximize ink yield -- one extra-large black ink cartridge and three color ink cartridges (cyan, yellow and magenta). Since these individual color inks can be replaced at any time, efficiency is maximized, lowering the total cost of ownership. Each cartridge also contains a chip that relays ink level information on screen to the user via the printer driver, while self-sealing valves preserve the inks up to six months once removed from the printer. Therefore, reinserted cartridges that haven't been fully depleted can be reinserted for later use.

Easy to Set Up and Use

Epson has also increased its focus on setup/installation and ease of use on its latest four-color ink jet printers. Once a printer has been taken out of the box, a new plug-and-play installation feature enables Windows users to simply attach their computer and printer using a USB cable, follow a few basic onscreen instructions and in a few minutes begin printing. Choosing which printer settings to use in the driver using Windows has also been simplified with the addition of a basic icon-based user interface that will help even the most novice users find the most ideal combinations of speed and image quality for a variety of print jobs.

Users printing photographs taken from digital cameras will also find it easier to print great-looking photos on a variety of photographic papers (including borderless 4" x 6" photos) using the new EXIF Print feature. EXIF is an international standard and acronym (Exchangeable Image File format) that enables the printer to automatically compensate for advanced digital image parameters such as color space, noise reduction, white balance and more.

The EPSON Stylus C82 is capable of large-quantity printing when needed. The printer's paper input tray holds up to 150 sheets of 20-pound paper at a time, reducing the number of times a user will need to refill the tray during a large print job. It also has the capacity to print as many as 5,000 sheets per month. Additionally, the Stylus C82 offers both USB and parallel connectivity for simultaneous use of either Macintosh or Windows platforms.

Wireless and Network Connectivity

Increasing use of wireless technology protocols such as Wi-Fi have led to the creation of a similar printer called the EPSON Stylus C82WN. This product offers the same features as the Stylus C82 with the addition of a wireless Ethernet 802.11b print server that supports multiple network protocols. Users can print to the wireless EPSON Stylus C82WN through an access point or directly from a PC or Mac equipped with an 802.11b wireless adapter. As a result, users can transfer information from their computer to the printer up to 120 feet in distance at speeds as fast as 11 megabits per second. The EPSON Stylus C82WN sells for $379. An optional wireless Bluetooth interface adapter that simply plugs into the printer's parallel port is also available for $129.

Wired local area network users will be able to take advantage of a similar model called the EPSON Stylus C82N. Once again, this printer will offer the same features found in the Stylus C82 with the addition of an EpsonNet External 10/100Mbit Print Server accessory to connect the printer to a wired LAN. The EPSON Stylus C82N is available for $349.

Nikon D100 Review Page (updated)

NEW D100 SAMPLE PICTURES ORIGINAL SIZE POSTED

 

New Sharp megapixel digital still cameras (models VE-CG30U and VE-CG40U). Sharp is entering the digital still camera market with two new megapixel cameras featuring Sharp's CG Silicon(TM) Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology. Both units are outfitted with a 1.5-inch high resolution color CG Silicon LCD screen and viewfinder, which will ensure a crisp preview to properly frame a photo. The VE-CG30U has a 3.3 megapixel CCD, while the VE-CG40U features a 4.2 megapixel CCD. Both models feature full manual and automatic options, and also have 3x optical zoom and 3x digital zoom, USB driver and interface, white balance control, image effects, and 16 MB SD card. The VE-CG30U will be available this month for an MSRP of $499.95. The VE-GC40U will be available in September for an MSRP of $599.95.

 

 

Microsoft Advances Digital Imaging with the Introduction of Picture It! Digital Image Pro

Microsoft has issued a press release earlier this past week about their new digital imaging software called Picture It! Digital Image Pro 7.0, which is now available at a price of $109. The software has support for Adobe Photoshop Filters and includes 3,000 photo projects, 150 filters, 5,000 images and many mats, frames and templates. For more details see the full press release below.

New Advanced Photo-Editing Software Boasts Add Flash, Backlighting, Levels Adjustment And Adobe Photoshop Plug-in Filter Support

REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 20 - Microsoft® (Nasdaq: MSFT - News) Picture It!® Digital Image Pro version 7.0 hit store shelves today, making it easier than ever for digital camera owners, including the 9.5 million new owners,(1) to create professional-quality photos. The newest edition to the Picture It! family, Picture It! Digital Image Pro is the only product to offer the unique combination of advanced photo-editing tools, professional-quality photo projects and simplicity.

Picture It! Digital Image Pro provides photo hobbyists with easy access to a host of new advanced control features and expanded photo projects. These features enable users to add flash to a photo; reduce backlighting; adjust levels to control shadows, midtones and highlights; and open, save and automatically adjust multiple pictures in the improved Mini Lab. With Adobe Photoshop plug-in filter support, users can further enhance their photos. In addition, a new file browser, enhanced startup window, product tour and improved user interface make it even easier for users to capture and enhance their photos.

Picture It! Digital Image Pro also offers 3,000 photo projects, 150 filters, 5,000 images, and a variety of mats, frames and templates for creating professional photo projects, such as scrapbooks, photo albums, calendars and postcards. Filters with variations such as Antique, Impressionism and Watercolor add instant style to photos. New Adobe Photoshop plug-in filter support offers endless opportunity to turn ordinary photos into works of art. Users can find professionally designed content for a variety of needs, including kids' projects and business, community and home projects. Photo cards and projects are available for all occasions and seasons.

Picture It! Digital Image Pro is integrated with MSN® Photos,(2) to enable consumers to take advantage of the mobility of the Internet to store, share, collaborate and fully maximize their photo-editing and digital-imaging experience. In addition, with MSN Photos, users can seamlessly order photo reprints and gifts directly from within Digital Image Pro.

"Last year, digital cameras accounted for more than 21 percent of the worldwide camera market, and as that number continues to grow,(3) and as digital camera users continue to become more savvy and sophisticated, they are looking for products like Digital Image Pro," said Michelle Richardson, product manager for home imaging at Microsoft Corp. "Microsoft developed Picture It! Digital Image Pro to meet the evolving needs of the photo hobbyists who have come to rely on our digital-imaging products. Now for the first time, they can more easily create professional-quality photos and photo projects."

Availability

Microsoft Picture It! Digital Image Pro version 7.0 is available for an estimated retail price of $109 (U.S.). Microsoft offers a $30 rebate for users upgrading from a previous version of Picture It! or a competitive product, and an additional $10 rebate if consumers purchase any digital camera the same day they purchase the software. In addition, the product ships with $85 worth of coupons for Fuji products, Avery paper samples and Alien Skin plug-ins.

In addition to the high-end features and functionality offered by Picture It! Digital Image Pro, Microsoft provides product options for all levels of digital photography users. The latest version of Picture It! Photo provides an entry-level software package, and the seventh packaged version of Picture It! Photo Premium offers users a popular collection of midlevel photo-editing and drawing and painting options. Microsoft also is shipping the fifth-anniversary edition of Microsoft Picture It! Publishing Platinum 2002, which includes greeting cards from commercial artists, photo-editing features and thousands of ways to do print and Web projects.

 
 
 
Worldwide Wireless Imaging Users Forecast to Reach 160 Million by 2007 According to InfoTrends Research Group
 
InfoTrends has issued a new report on wireless imaging. Their research predicts that the numbers will jump from 6.6 wireless image users worldwide to 160 million by 2007. Japan already has 5 million users with cell phones that can transmit images from built-in digital cameras, and the trend should catch on here in the USA, although we predict that the majority of users in the USA are going to want to send more photographic quality images using wireless solutions, which will require a wider variety of products such as PDAs to get the job done. Here is the press release from InfoTrends.
 
BOSTON - Aug. 21, 2002--The number of wireless imaging users worldwide is forecast to grow from 6.6 million in 2002 to over 160 million by 2007, representing a compound annual growth rate of 93%, according to a new study by InfoTrends Research Group. Japan has taken the lead in this market, with 98% of all wireless imaging users in 2002 residing in Japan. By the end of the forecast period, however, wireless imaging users will be more evenly distributed among the major regions of the world. Wireless imaging is still in its early stages. Nevertheless, real products and services are available on the market, and are being used by consumers and businesses alike. For example: In Japan, over 5 million people carry cell phones with embedded digital cameras. In North America, insurance agents are sending images wirelessly from the field for inclusion in claims documents. Consumers have the ability to capture photos on the go with clip-on cameras, and send them via their mobile phones to friends and family. MMS (multimedia messaging services) is being deployed in Europe.

Worldwide, consumers can download images and graphics to their mobile phones. "Wireless imaging will have an impact on many segments of the digital imaging industry," said Michelle Slaughter, Director of Digital Photography Trends for InfoTrends Research Group. "Digital camera vendors must consider solutions for implementing connectivity from cameras to mobile communications devices and whether mobile image capture devices will impact sales of standalone point & shoot digital cameras. Additionally, players involved in digital photofinishing will need to confront ever-expanding opportunities for soft display, and find ways to assert themselves in the mobile imaging environment. Online photo service providers and software vendors will need to decide how and when to support the new mobile platform."
 
The new report is entitled 2002 Wireless Imaging Market Outlook and is available immediately. It examines the worldwide market size and market opportunities by region for Japan, Europe, North America, and Rest of World, as well as vendors developing solutions for wireless imaging. InfoTrends Research Group, Inc. (www.infotrends-rgi.com)is the leading market research and consulting firm for digital imaging.
 
 
 
 
 
Electric Fuel's Instant Power(TM) Batteries to be Sold in Over 1,200 Ritz Camera stores
 
Well here is some news from Electric Fuel Corporation and Ritz about new battery options for camcorders and digital camera owners. The press release indicates 12 hours of continuous use of digital cameras, wow! We will try to get some samples and provide a brief review of these interesting new batteries.

NEW YORK, Aug. 19 Electric Fuel Corporation (Nasdaq: EFCX - News) announced today that the Company's Instant Power(TM) chargers for digital cameras and camcorders will be sold in 1,200 Ritz Camera stores, the nation's largest retail photo chain, and on their award winning website 'Ritzcamera.com' with additional nationwide distribution from WYNIT, Inc., the nation's largest and fastest growing distributor of digital imaging products. Based upon Electric Fuel's zinc-air technology platform, the Instant Power camcorder battery connects to the camcorder through its DC jack and offers up to 10-hours of straight use time, depending upon the product's make and model. The battery comes complete with a 3-foot cord and has an integral belt clip for convenience of use. The battery offers a 5-year shelf life in the original sealed aluminum pouch.
 
The Instant Power digital camera battery offers and unprecedented 12 hours of continuous operation time, depending upon make and model type, and allows for hundreds of photos with just one battery. As with the camcorder battery, the digital camera battery pack comes with a built-in belt clip and 3-foot cord. The battery also offers a 5-year shelf life in the original sealed aluminum pouch. "This is a major accomplishment for our Instant Power division's retail efforts," commented Electric Fuel President and CEO Yehuda Harats. "The division's management team identified this sector as a strong market for us. With the photo industry expertise of Ritz and the comprehensive distribution channel of WYNIT, we feel we can capture strong market share and capitalize on the growth in this industry."
 
 
 
 
New Technology Xe847(R) Filter Produces Digital Photos and Video That Appear as Seen Through the Human Eye
 
New Technology has issued an interesting press release announcing a new filter algorithm that they claim makes digital photos and video appear as they did when captured, as seen by the human eye. The Xe847 filter can be incorporated into digital imaging devices including digital cameras, post processing software, and photo labs. Here is the full press release for more details.

Digital Arts GmbH Presents Exceptional Enhancement Technology for Digital Imaging Devices
COLOGNE, Germany, Aug. 20 - The German technology company Digital Arts GmbH has developed a filter algorithm that makes photos and video appear as they did at the moment captured. Xe847 can be integrated into digital imaging devices and photo labs. The technology is available in MacOS 9/X and MS Windows versions. Xe847 eliminates color shifts coming from the ambient light, automatically correcting such problems as blue or green reflections on skin that produce pale complexions. Digital camcorders significantly benefit from this technology. Imagine a summer vacation scene at the beach. It may be warm and sunny, but a blue color shift from the blue sky produces a cold appearance on the video. The warm atmosphere is not recorded correctly. Xe847 adjusts the output so that the memory is preserved accurately. Xe847 analyzes the scene, frame by frame, and recalculates how we would see it. The technology can either be integrated in the camera or in the post- processing software. Xe847 simulates the so-called color-constancy of the human visual system: up to a certain degree, the human eye perceives the color of objects as constant even if the ambient light or the illuminant changes. Whether illuminated by direct sunlight or fluorescent lighting, human skin always looks natural. Xe847 was developed on the basis of physiological processes in the visual cortex of the brain as well as some higher psychological effects. The software version of Xe847 is available at www.xe847.com, as Xe847-Photo ($29), Xe847-Video ($79), as a plug-in for iMovie2 ($14) and for iPhoto ($19). Free Demo and test versions can be downloaded.
 
 
 
 
 
Applied Science Fiction -ASF- Announces First New York City Retail Test of Digital PIC Dry Film Processing Technology
 
Well, for those of you who just cannot give up film yet, here is a way to get digital images from your film cameras and bring them into your computer for digital editing using software such as Photoshop etc..... Here is a press release from Applied Science Fiction on a process we first learned about at the PMA show last February.
 
NEW YORK - Applied Science Fiction(TM), Inc., the inventor of the cutting-edge digital dry film processing system Digital PIC, announces today the first Digital PIC retail test in New York City at Camera Land. With ASF's environmentally friendly Digital PIC system at Camera Land, consumers have access to self-service photofinishing in a traditional retail camera store. ASF is also the creator of the award-winning Digital ICE(TM) and Digital ICE3(TM) technologies, the leader of automatic photo restoration applications.
 
This retail test of the Digital PIC kiosk will continue through the fall of this year. Using the Digital PIC self-serve kiosk located conveniently at Camera Land's midtown Manhattan store, consumers simply drop their exposed film into the kiosk for automatic film processing, printing, and the creation of digital image files. During the development process, users can then select the images they want printed and/or enlarged, and receive their prints including an index print and a DigiPIX(TM) Digital Negative on CD in less than ten minutes. In addition, consumers have the option to edit their images by removing red-eye, cropping, and adjusting brightness or contrast before making enlargements.
 
"By being the first retailer in New York City to offer the Digital PIC direct to digital dry film processing system, we are able to differentiate ourselves from all of the competition in our market area," said Joel Paymer, owner, Camera Land. "Quality from the Digital PIC kiosk is extremely high allowing our customers to obtain high-quality photofinishing very quickly. And as a midtown Manhattan retailer where retail space is expensive, the benefits of a Digital PIC kiosk, such as the need for extremely little floor space, no plumbing, no chemical mixing, no negative handling, limited maintenance and self-service features makes Digital PIC a very attractive product for my store."
 
ASF expects that Digital PIC will be in production by the 1st quarter of 2003 with OEM partners delivering various configurations to the marketplace in the 1st half of 2003. These Digital PIC systems can be placed in traditional photofinishing and photo retail outlets, as well as non-traditional locations such as resorts, hotels, amusement parks, airports, business centers, post offices, and libraries.
 
"Our Digital PIC kiosk empowers consumers to build their custom print order at the time of film development, when excitement about their pictures is the highest thus generating increased revenues for retailers, a benefit that Camera Land is seeing first hand," said Dan Sullivan, ASF's president and CEO. "Early feedback from customers using the system at Camera Land confirms our pre-launch independent market research that found features such as ease of use, self-service, selecting and editing images for printing and enlarging, obtaining a DigiPIX digital negative on CD, and ready access to high-quality photofinishing anywhere at anytime are important consumer benefits."
 
Earlier this summer, the Digital PIC kiosk had its first ever retail test at Precision Camera & Video in Austin, TX. This system is also currently being tested at seven Boston, MA-area CVS locations. For more information, visit www.asf.com.
Digital PIC Process
 
ASF's Digital PIC technology develops 35mm film directly into a high-resolution RGB digital format in one quick step. Micro-amounts of a proprietary developing agent are applied to a roll of exposed but undeveloped film as it is fed through the processor's image-capture engine. The environmentally friendly Digital PIC process requires no water, generates no hazardous effluents, and makes complete silver recovery possible. Next, the Digital PIC system makes a digital record of each image. Once the image data is captured, color data and exposure settings are established on a pixel-by-pixel basis for each element of every image. Complete 24-exposure roll development is accomplished in less than ten minutes after the film is fed into the image-capture engine.
 
Digital PIC creates a unique DigiPIX CD. DigiPIX offers consumers tremendous flexibility for communicating with images. The CD includes an index-print file plus high-, medium- and low-resolution image files that provide the consumer a convenient avenue to share their images in many ways. Digital PIC allows for consistent image quality, and is Internet and Broadband ready. Configurations for Digital PIC technology include photo kiosks, microlabs, backoffice workstations, backlabs, and quick print stations.
 
 
 
 
NEWS (08/21/02 & 08/22/02)
 
Ricoh Introduces Revolutionary 3.24-Megapixel Digital Zoom Camera Featuring Ultrafast Shutter Response and Long life battery Support
 
Ricoh has sent us a press release on their new Caplio RR30 digital camera. The new 3.24 megapixel CCD camera features a 3x optical zoom and a very fast shutter response time of just .22 seconds along with longer battery life. The press release below has full details however we do not have US availability and pricing yet.
 
Tokyo, August 22, 2002 – Ricoh has announced the release of the Caplio RR30 digital camera.

This revolutionary new model eliminates the key banes of digital photography. Users can quickly capture action opportunities because the shutter response is the world’s fastest in this camera’s class* – at just 0.22 second. The Caplio RR30 is also a perfect travel companion, with an optionally available lithium ion battery that allows hundreds of shots between charges. The Caplio RR30 is one of a handful of digital cameras that can additionally operate with two AA alkaline or nickel metal hydride batteries, and also comes with an optional AC adapter.
 
* As of July 20, 2002, for compact digital cameras with resolutions of four megapixels or less. Speed measured as time between depressing shutter release button and starting exposure in auto focus mode without using focus lock.

The new model’s CCD delivers an effective 3.24 megapixels of high resolution, complemented by 10.2x zooming from a 3x optical zoom lens, combined with 3.4x digital zooming. For those seeking up-close detail, the Caplio RR30 allows 1cm macros. Apart from a regular continuous shooting mode, two new continuous shooting modes record the first or last 16 frames of a subject to one file in around two seconds. This is perfect for those seeking to analyze everything from a golfer’s swing to a sprinter’s gait. The Caplio RR30’s high-sensitivity mode provides incomparably better illumination of subjects in the dark to aid framing and shooting. Another key advantage of the Caplio RR30 is that it can plug in to USB cable-equipped personal computers with the provided imaging software installed, for instant image transfers.

Katsunori Nakata, general manager of the Marketing Office at Ricoh’s Personal Multimedia Products Company, says of the new model that: “We listened closely to existing digital camera users before developing this new model. And we responded with innovation.

The Caplio RR30 makes digital photography a reliably complete and user-friendly experience, such as through the long battery life and ultrafast shutter response. On top of that, the Caplio RR30’s 3.24-megapixel resolution, 10.2x zoom, and a host of other handy features make it equally suitable for the consumer market and business users, such as web writers, columnists, magazine editors, and public relations officers. The Caplio RR30 has everything you need to truly enjoy digital photography.”
 
Main Features:

Ultrafast Shutter Response
People who have used digital cameras before have likely suffered the frustrations of action shooting. All too often, the subject has almost disappeared before a shot is captured. This is because shutter responses on such cameras are so slow. But the Caplio RR30 eliminates this problem. The release time lag is just 0.22 second. The Caplio RR30 achieves such speed with its hybrid autofocusing system, comprising both external and through-the-lens focusing. The shutter speed ranges from an amazing 1/2,000th of a second to a full eight seconds. All these capabilities allow users to comfortably handle everything from portrait to action photography.

Diverse Power Sources
When on road, users can always switch to two AA alkaline or nickel metal hydride batteries in the unlikely event that the optional lithium ion battery runs out. Few other digital cameras offer such dual battery capabilities. With the lithium ion battery, up to 3,500 shots* are possible between recharges. An optional AC adapter is available for those wishing to take advantage of a nearby power source. * A maximum 3,500 shots under continuous counting mode (flash off, without zooming, LCD off, with VGA); up to 350 shots under normal usage conditions (with 50% flash and zoom usage, LCD on, 30 seconds between shots, reviews of all photos).

1cm Macro Photography
The Caplio RR30 builds on the Ricoh tradition of offering crisp macros as close as 1cm from a subject, so it can, for example, capture the full richness of settings in an engagement ring. The camera also offers macros across the zoom range up to 16cm away, while the built-in flash can be used for shots as close as 16cm.

Multi-Shot Shooting
One of the key attractions of the Caplio RR30 is that it is a perfect tool for people wanting to analyze action. Golfers, for example, might want to analyze their swings. The Caplio RR30 has two handy streaming shot modes for such people. In S- continuous Mode, it can take a stream of 16 shots in one file at 0.13-second intervals—for two seconds of footage—with just one press of the shutter button. In M-continuous Mode, with the shutter button held down the camera memorizes the last 16 shots in one file, taken at 0.13 second intervals. This is very convenient if users are unsure exactly when a particular action may start or finish.

High-Sensitivity Display
The Caplio RR30 does away with another familiar drawback of digital cameras: poor display visibility in nightclubs and other dim environments. Its high-sensitivity mode provides incomparably better illumination of subjects in the dark to aid framing and shooting.

Simple Image Transfers
The Caplio RR30 makes child’s play of image transfers. Just turn the camera off. Link via a USB cable to a Windows PC or Mac OS computer preinstalled with RICOH GATE L software installed. The computer will then instantly start importing at 3 megabytes per second. Mac OSX users can import images with iPhoto. Windows XP users can take advantage of the Windows Image Acquisition driver interface.

Hybrid Autofocusing
The Caplio RR30 incorporates a hybrid autofocusing system, comprising both external and through-the-lens focusing. The external system operates constantly, thus advancing shutter speeds and enhancing shooting in dark environments. The through-the-lens setup is handy for ensuring crispness in closeups and macro photography.

Handy Exposure Options
A 256-point light sensor scans the subject area to average and determine optimal exposure settings. The camera also offers center-weighted and spot metering and incorporates auto bracketing.


Synchro Monitor Mode
In this mode, the camera conserves power by keeping the monitor off before shooting. The monitor goes on when the shutter button is depressed to preview a shot or operate the zoom, and remains on for several seconds after a picture is taken.
Compatible with Secure Digital Memory Cards
 
The Caplio RR30 has an internal 8M memory and can also use optional Secure Digital memory cards.
These ultracompact solid-state devices do not need a power source to store information and permit fast and simple downloads of images. The camera is also compatible with Multimedia cards. Shutter speeds from 1/2000 to eight seconds The shutter range is from an amazing 1/2,000th of a second to a full eight seconds. All these capabilities allow users to comfortably handle everything from portrait to action photography.

Diverse Scene Modes and Video Captures
To remove the fuss from photography, the Caplio RR30 offers six preset scene modes. These are the portrait, sports, landscape, night scene, text, and high-sensitivity modes. Another handy feature of the Caplio RR30 is that it can capture silent video.

Quick Reviews at the Press of a Button
Most cameras require users to switch modes if they want to review results. With the Caplio RR30, however, users can take advantage of the Recview capability when in any shooting mode, simply depressing a button to instantly replay the most recent image.

 

 

NEWS & WEB SITE UPDATES (08/18/02)
 
We have been away for most of the past two weeks attempting to test out several new cameras we have including the 3 recent Nikon cameras and I have been out of town on other important business matters. A rare combination of factors has resulted in the unusual situation where both of us who run the site, Steve McLaughlin and myself David Kamanski, have been out of town and away from our computers including our usual internet connections at the same time, making it near impossible to update the site on our normal daily basis. This is a temporary situation which should be resolved over the next week or two. While we do have laptops and can occasionally connect via slow modem connections, this is hard to do in places such as Big Sur while living out of a tent. In addition, I have other obligations that are extremely important that occasionally cause me to be out of town. I had hoped one situation would resolve, but it has not as of this date and currently it could keep me out of town a week or two more. We will be adding all the main news stories from the past few weeks as some free time opens up and especially over the weekends. In the mean time here are a few quick news items.
 
 
 
 
New Reviews and News at other sites
 
Phil Askey at his dpreview web site has posted a full review of the Nikon 4500 which you should check out. He also has news of a possible new Olympus camera and new Iomega 750 Zip disks on his main news page.
 
Dave Etchells has also posted his full review of the Nikon 4500 at his Imaging Resource web site. He has also just added a review of the recent Sony P7, a small 3 megapixel camera.
 
 
 
 
Dazzle announces new USB DVD burner for digital cameras and video camcorder owners
 
This new Dazzle DVD Creation Station 200 (DCS 200) unit comes with slots for most digital camera cards and can mix photos with video and then burn a DVD with included software. The new DCS 200 is priced at $229.99 (MSRP) and available now. For more info. check out the Dazzle web site.
 
 
 
Adobe announces Elements 2.0 shipping
 
Adobe's new Elements version 2.0 is now available and shipping. Check out the Adobe web site for more information.
 
 
 
 
New Lexar SD Memory Cards Ship
 
Lexar has posted the following news about new 256 and 512MB SD memory cards at their web site.
 
Lexar Media Extends SD Memory Line With 256MB and 512MB Capacities
 
Fremont, Calif., August 15, 2002 -- Lexar Media Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), a leading developer of flash mass storage systems and an innovator of high-performance digital media and accessory products, today announced that it has started shipments of 256MB and 512MB capacity SD memory cards. The new cards add to the existing capacities 32MB, 64MB and 128MB. The 256MB and 512MB SD memory cards will be available at leading consumer electronics and mass merchandisers worldwide at a suggested retail price $199 and $399 respectively.
 
 
 
 
EpsonUSA announces 2 new photo printers.
 
Epson has issued a press release this past week announcing 2 new 6 ink photo printers. The new printers are the EPSON Stylus Photo 925 and 825. The Photo 925 features a automated roll paper cutter, one-touch printing buttons, and the ability to crop images without a computer. The EPSON Stylus Photo 825 is indicated to be a replacement to last year's EPSON Stylus Photo 785EPX. Both printers have up to 5760 x 720 dpi with Resolution Performance Management technology and four-picoliter droplets. Those wanting to view photos and layouts without a computer can buy an optional 1.6" color Preview Monitor at an estimated street price of $79. The EPSON Stylus Photo 825 and 925 both use Epson's BorderFree photo printing technology and come with Epson's roll paper holder accessory for printing multiple borderless 4" x 6" snapshots and panoramas on 4" rolls. Epson indicates that larger images can be produced on the printers with a maximum printable area of 8.3" x 44". The EPSON Stylus Photo 825 and 925 both support PRINT Image Matching (P.I.M.) II technology which can be used with many digital cameras and programs such as Photoshop and Elements to make it easier to print out at optimal automatic settings. The EPSON Stylus Photo 825 and 925 will be available by September at estimated street prices of $199 and $299, respectively. Here is a link to the full Epson Press Release.
 
 
 
Kodak announces new digital cameras.
 
Kodak has issued a press release about their latest digital cameras, the 3.1 megapixel, 3X optical zoom lens DX 4330 camera at a price of $349.95 and the 2.0 megapixel CX 4200 camera with no optical zoom lens at a price of $179.95. For photos, features, specifications and more information check out the Kodak web site pages for the DX 4330 and the CX 4200, and below is the full press release issued by Kodak.
 
Adding to Its EasyShare Camera Line-up, Kodak Launches High Performance DX4330 Zoom Digital Camera and Point-and-Shoot CX4200 Digital Camera - Kodak EasyShare DX4330 Debuts New LCD Screen for Improved Viewing in Direct Sunlight

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Aug. 13, 2002-- Eastman Kodak Company today added two new models to its industry-leading family of Kodak EasyShare digital cameras. The DX4330 Zoom Digital Camera is designed to deliver great pictures even under tricky picture-taking conditions, while the CX4200 Digital Camera allows people to explore the benefits and fun of digital photography. The DX4330 is the first camera to debut Kodak's new 1.8" Indoor/Outdoor LCD display for effortless viewing even in bright sunlight.
 
The powerful, 3.1 Megapixel (MP) DX4330 features 10X zoom with a premium Kodak Retinar aspheric all-glass 3X optical zoom lens, producing amazing prints up to 11" x 14". It offers high-performance features including a user-friendly dial that gives fast access to various scene modes such as close-up, landscape, sport, night or fully automatic. Other features of this new model include continuous capture of video and sound - limited only by the size of the memory card. It will be available worldwide in early September at a suggested retail price of $349.95.
 
The easy-to-use point and shoot CX4200 offers 2.0 MP with 2X digital zoom, and is ideal for great prints up to 8" x 10". It will debut in late August at a suggested retail price of $179.95.
 
"Digital camera users enjoy the immediacy of on-camera sharing with their family and friends and the new DX4330's large Kodak Indoor/Outdoor LCD enhances that experience even in bright sunlight," said Pierre Schaeffer, chief marketing officer and vice president of Kodak's Digital & Applied Imaging division. "As the latest members of the Kodak EasyShare system, the DX4330 and CX4200 offer the hallmarks of EasyShare - ease-of-use, high quality prints and the broadest number of integrated printing options."
 
The DX4330 and the CX 4200 make sharing pictures one-touch easy with the recently-introduced on-camera "share" button, which allows users to tag pictures for easy printing, e-mailing or as favorites right on the camera's LCD display. With the "share" button, print tagging is as simple as choosing the picture and selecting the number of prints required. When the cameras are placed in the Kodak EasyShare camera dock and pictures are transferred, the Kodak EasyShare software automatically launches the print screen for making prints at home or ordering prints online through service providers. E-mail tagging is also simple and powerful. Users simply tag the picture for e-mailing and select an address directly from the cameras, which store up to 32 e-mail addresses.
 
Both cameras offer an automatic picture rotation feature that ensures that pictures always appear right side up on the camera, computer or TV. In addition, the cameras ensure that users will not miss the shot because they are always ready to snap a picture even when the camera is not in the capture mode. Both come with 16MB of internal memory and consumers can expand their picture-taking capacity with MultiMediaCard or Secure Digital memory cards via the cameras' expansion slot.
Like all Kodak EasyShare cameras, the cameras are designed to ensure the highest picture quality and benefit from the power of Kodak color science inside, Kodak's built-in proprietary color management technology that produces exceptional color quality under any lighting condition.
 
Both cameras are compatible with the Kodak EasyShare camera dock II, which allows consumers to upload their digital pictures at the touch of a button and quickly recharge the camera battery pack. The dock also includes separate indicator lights for picture transfer and battery charging status.
 
Combining a full line-up of digital cameras, camera dock and enhanced Kodak EasyShare software, the Kodak EasyShare system is the recognized standard for ease of use in consumer digital photography. The EasyShare system makes getting prints virtually effortless, giving consumers the option to print at home using One Touch to Better Pictures and Kodak inkjet paper; from home by uploading to either the EasyShare print service or another online photofinisher; or at retail using Kodak digitally-enabled kiosks or over the counter.
 
 
 
 
 
NEW NIKON D100 GALLERY POSTED (08/12/02)
 
We recently completed a new gallery of Nikon D100 pictures and have a link below. These pictures were taken during the past few weeks as we have traveled to many areas of California to test the camera. We have been using a Nikon D100 with the latest firmware, version 1.01 as our camera was updated days before the official announcement. The pictures in this gallery are mostly taken in daylight at ISO 200, however over the past few nights we have been testing the ISO 800 and 1600 settings in a variety of situations, with some fantastic results we will post soon. So far the Nikon D100 is producing very good images and we have no major issues to report as the colors are coming out great and the pictures sharpen up nicely in Photoshop. The original files for these shots are available now. Let us know how you like the format! If you are interested in a DSLR or Nikon D100 we invite you to check out our latest gallery of sample shots.
NEW NIKON D100 SAMPLE PICTURES POSTED (08/12/02)

D100 SAMPLE PICTURES ORIGINAL SIZE

 

 
 
 
 
NIKON COOLPIX 5700 DISNEYLAND SAMPLE PICTURES POSTED (08/04/02)
 
We have posted our first set of sample pictures from the brand new Nikon Coolpix 5700 digital camera. The camera features a huge 8X optical zoom lens in addition to a 5 megapixel CCD, RAW files, and a full set of manual controls all within a fairly small/lightweight body. The Nikon Coolpix 5700 is currently Nikon's top of the line consumer fixed lens digital camera and thus it is not designed primarily for the point and shoot crowd. However, we used the camera out as Disneyland in the automatic Program mode to see how it would perform on its own and the results can be viewed from the link below. We also took several shots from the widest angle and then zoomed in to the full 8X zoom for a somewhat dramatic look at just how much magnification the 8X zoom provides.
 
We have now used the Nikon Coolpix 5700 on several day long trips where we have gotten a chance to formulate some initial opinions. Initially, as we stated when we first opened the box, the camera is fairly compact and lightweight considering the powerful 8X optical zoom and 5 megapixels CCD, however it is a bit heavier then a typical point and shoot camera, and it won't fit into a pocket. Accordingly, most are going to want to use the fairly nice looking Nikon neck strap and walk around with the camera hanging down in front of them. The camera's relatively small body and light weight make it easy to tolerate walking around most of the day with the camera hanging around your neck. The camera is very sturdy and overall has a nice solid quality feel to it. We found the start-up and auto focus times to be more than adequate for getting our typical shots out at Disneyland with the shutter lag time seeming to be somewhat above normal as we would expect in this category of higher end cameras, but not close to matching the Nikon D100 which we often had with us at the same time. We did enjoy the use of the Compact Flash Type II slot which accepts the IBM Microdrive, although the combination of the Microdrive and the somewhat average at best performing included rechargeable battery makes getting a second battery, or buying and keeping on hand the compatible 2CR5 throw away Lithium battery a wise idea for day long outings. We did get over 100 pictures on a single battery charge using a Compact Flash type I card and above average reviewing, so the batteries do provide enough power to get a pretty good sized set of shots. We do like the very light weight and compact battery charger which makes it easy to bring it along in a small camera bag.
 
As far as the picture quality goes, we will let you check out the sample gallery without making our final opinions for now. The colors seem to be very good, as we see in these initial sets some well saturated and fairly neutral results. The only small tendency the camera can on occasion display it to slightly blow out whites or highlights on bright sunny shots. Our quick efforts to minimize this worked pretty good by just watching the exposure settings and moving the camera's aim just a little until we saw the combined settings close down the light one increment. The only consequence we saw to this occurring on a few occasions was a bit too strong a change (for example jumping down a full f-stop when 1/2 a stop would be a finer choice) which we noticed in large blue sky shots where you can see an increase in noise due to the fact less light is reaching the CCD. We also noticed that the higher zoom levels tended to show darker exposures with less tendency to have the highlights appear too bright but at some risk of increased noise levels. We doubt either of these issues will be of any significance to most unless you are printing out a very large sizes, or if you were cropping heavily to enlarge a subject, something the 8X optical zoom is there for in the first place. Although the lens is very very good for this price range and you will get about the highest detail levels you currently can from a consumer level camera, we currently are seeing that the sharpness is perhaps just slightly below the level found in the Sony DSC 707, although it is also clear that the difference is not that much, and part of the difference can be due to the fact the Sony 707 may have a bit more aggressive sharpness applied in camera.
 
The other main issue we have noted early on is that use of the viewfinder or lcd screen in bright daylight is a bit difficult, especially for those who wear glasses, although the viewfinder has a nice dioptric control to make the proper adjustments. Still the sun tends to wash out the colors in either mode making it hard to frame the shot or keep it perfectly level. At night we were having a bit of difficulty seeing the subjects in low lighting. It would be nice if there was a low light illuminator. On the other hand the focus did just fine in most situations, and we did get some great outdoor night time concert shots, a few of which we may post soon.
 
We are overall quite impressed with the high quality of pictures you can obtain from the Nikon Coolpix 5700, as well as the superior manual controls and flexibility it offers. It is certainly producing very good to excellent results, with the ability to print out very good looking 11 by 14 inch and larger pictures. We will have a lot more comments on the camera as we continue to test it in many settings. For now we hope you will enjoy checking out the samples we obtained out at Disneyland in Anaheim, California on yet another nice sunny summer day!
 
 
NIKON COOLPIX 5700 DISNEYLAND SAMPLE PICTURES POSTED (08/04/02)
 
 
 
 
 
 
FUJI ANNOUNCES 5 NEW DIGICAMS USING NEW xD CARDS (08/01/02)
 
FujiFilm has announced 5 new digital cameras to their upcoming lineup today. The new cameras all use the new xD Picture Cards which were just announced on Tuesday. We will have more on these cameras and the HP digital imaging products announced Monday on our updates by the weekend. We were out town again Wednesday attending a special press/media event so we still have some catching up to do. While we must avoid any further details right now, we can say that there are some upcoming key announcements which will be of great interest to digital camera fans in addition to the big news this week from Fuji, Olympus & HP. For those seeking additional information about the new Fuji cameras, here is a link to The General Fuji Press Release and Fuji has also issued press releases with product photos for the FINEPIX A200 AND FINEPIX 2650 as well as the FinePix A203 and FinePix A303,and the FINEPIX 3800.
 
 
 
 
QUICK UPDATES (07/30/02)
 
As we mentioned in our last post Sunday, we did get out to Disneyland in the afternoon with the Coolpix 5700 to obtain a nice set of sample pictures, which we will post over then next few days. We then headed up the Coast of California to Solvang, a cute Danish town, where we took many shots of the Danish Buildings including colorful flowers and windmills, using the Nikon D100 (now updated with firmware version 1.01 to fix a white balance bracketing issue). As mentioned at Steve's Digicam web site if your new D100 has a green dot on the box, then you already have the new firmware. If you have firmware 1.0 as shown in your picture playback information fields, then you can send your camera in to Nikon for a free upgrade, using pre-paid mailers from Nikon. For more information check out this D100 white balance issue web site page at Nikon. In light of our photo trip several hundred miles up the Coast of California and just getting back late last night, we are behind posting a few items. We will be updating the news with some news of HP announcing new cameras and printers, as well as a few other items. We have a major media event we are attending tomorrow (Wednesday) with a large digital camera company, but for now its best we say little, and then we will be back up the Coast of California even farther this time to try and get some nice shots of the Big Sur area. The Coast has been very hazy the past week, so we can only hope to have some nice Nikon D100 and Coolpix 5700 shots for you to examine and compare within the next week. Keep checking back as we are working really hard to bring you some good information on how the new Nikon 5700, 4500 and D100 Cameras we are reviewing are performing, and we are trying to get really nice subject matter so the sample pictures will be enjoyable as well as informative as to how well the camera can do at getting pleasing results.
 
 
 
 
 
OLYMPUS & FUJI DEVELOP NEW xD PICTURE MEMORY CARDS (07/30/02)
 
Olympus and Fuji have developed a new Memory Card format called the xD Picture Card, destined for new digital cameras and other digital products which use removable memory cards expected to be announced by this fall. The new xD Picture cards will allow for much higher capacity storage, with initial cards to reach 128MB and 256 cards expected before the end of the year. The tiny new cards are claimed to be smaller and lighter then other formats, and yet they have announced that next year we will see 512 MB and 1 Gig storage sizes, with the cards eventually reaching a size of 8 Gigs down the road. The new memory cards can also fit into a Compact Flash Adaptor for use in all cameras which currently support the use Compact Flash cards. The new xD Picture cards will be made by Toshiba and will be available for use with pcmcia adaptors and USB card readers. For more information see the Olympus Press Release below, or use this link to the Fuji Press site for the Fuji Press Release which includes some additional technical information such as the 3MB per second record transfer speeds and more.
 
 
Olympus Announces Development of xD-Picture CardTM,
A Revolutionary Ultra-Compact Digital Camera Memory Media

World's Smallest Memory Cards Offer Storage Capacity Up to 8 Gigabytes, Lower Power Consumption, and Compatibility with Different Digital Camera Brands

July 30, 2002, Melville, NY-- Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. and Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd (Fujifilm) of Japan today announced they have jointly developed the xD-Picture Card(tm), a new type of memory media with an ultra-compact design about the size of a postage stamp, image storage capacity of up to 8 gigabytes, compatibility with different digital camera brands, and prices that are comparable to current SmartMedia(tm) cards.

The name of the new xD-Picture Card was inspired by the words "eXtreme digital" to signify the excellence of this new memory media for recording, storing, and transporting audiovisual information. The xD-Picture Card will be produced on consignment by Toshiba Corporation in Japan and introduced in the Americas this fall along with digital cameras from Olympus and Fujifilm that support the media.

Olympus and Fujifilm cooperated on the development of the xD-Picture Card to respond to the needs of consumers using today's advanced digital still cameras. These users require greater memory capacity, and with initial memory sizes from 16 to 128 megabytes at introduction, and followed by 256 megabytes by the end of 2002 and larger sizes up to 8 gigabytes in the future, the new xD-Picture Card(tm) meets and exceeds memory needs.

Camera users concerned with compatibility of digital media between different brands of digital cameras will appreciate the xD-Picture Card's versatility. With a Compact Flash(tm) adapter the xD-Picture Card can be used with any Compact Flash compatible device for even more possibilities. A USB Reader/Writer provides easy computer connectivity, and a PCMCIA PC Card adapter for laptops and other devices ensures the easy downloading of data.

Although similar in some ways to all flash media, xD-Picture Cards are designed for increased durability and reliability despite their size. The small size of the card will also allow for digital manufacturers to design even smaller, more stylish and powerful digital devices in the future.

"Olympus has been a supporter of SmartMedia in our digital cameras since the introduction of our first digital camera in 1997, and we plan to continue distributing this media for our customers," said John Knaur, Product Manager for Digital Consumer Products Group at Olympus, "As the needs of digital camera users evolve and the demand for greater memory capacity combines with the necessity for compatibility, Olympus and Fuji are responding with a new media designed to grow along with the market and meet the challenges of tomorrow."

xD-Picture CARD MAIN FEATURES

Ultra-compact 0.79" x 0.98" x .067 size
With a volume of 0.85cc and a weight of 2g, the xD-Picture Card boasts the smallest form factor of any digital memory card, making it exceptionally portable and convenient. The miniature size of the new Card will enable development of even smaller digital cameras.

Planned capacities up to 8GB
Four types of Cards will be available initially: 16MB, 32MB, 64MB, and 128MB.
256MB Cards are planned to be introduced this December, with 512MB and 1GB-8GB Cards to follow from the next year.

Core media concept
PC Card adapters and USB card readers will be available simultaneously with xD-Picture Cards, allowing easy interfacing with personal computers. A CompactFlash(tm) adapter is being developed that will allow use of xD-Picture Cards in cameras designed for CompactFlash(tm) media. Plans to adapt the new media for PDAs, audio players and other IT appliances are also underway.

For more information, contact Olympus America Inc, Consumer Products Group, Two Corporate Center Dr., Melville, NY 11747-3157, ph: (631) 844-5000 (800) 622-6372, Fax: (631) 844-5262 or the Olympus Web Site: http://www.olympusamerica.com.
 
 
 
 
NIKON COOLPIX 4500 SAMPLE PICTURES FROM DISNEYLAND POSTED (07/28/02)
 

We have added a new set of samples from Disneyland taken using the new Nikon Coolpix 4500. We have added a new thumbnail page made from Photoshop 7 with links to medium sized shots and the unaltered original picture files which are about 1.3 megs each (click on the med. sized shot to the right). They take about 4 or 5 seconds to download on broadband and most are looking really colorful, sharp and well exposed. We are working on how to best present the medium sized pictures using this new format, including compression levels (currently at 5 = aprox. 75kb files at 700 by 525 resolution) and sharpness (currently none). Check them out and give us your feedback!

 
NEW NIKON COOLPIX 4500 DISNEYLAND SAMPLES POSTED (07/28/02)
 
 
 
 
 
NIKON COOLPIX 5700 NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE (07/28/02)
 
Our affiliate partner RitzCamera.Com has now added the Nikon Coolpix 5700 to their lineup and it is now available from our link below. The camera was initially expected to ship a few weeks ago but was delayed until this weekend, so those of you who have been waiting for a Coolpix 5700 for quite some time now, the wait is over! The Nikon Coolpix 5700 is a top-notch camera featuring an impressive 8X zoom lens and a 5 megapixel CCD. We just received a full production review unit from Nikon at the start of the week and we have already been out to Disneyland on Friday night to start our testing process. We got some great flash shots and some really colorful concert pictures from our first use. We have also started to test the zoom abilities as well as the cameras abilities to handle highlights, especially in light of our extensive use and testing of the Coolpix 5000. We will post some of our initial test pictures along with our Disneyland Gallery as soon as we can after we get back from taking more pictures at Disneyland and California Adventure Parks later today. So far we have found the camera to be relatively small & light considering the powerful lens, although it is a bit bigger then the pocket type cameras. While out walking around Disneyland we used the included neck strap which allowed the camera to hang comfortably in front of us, with hardly a notice. The camera seems quick to start up and can be used in a simple point and shoot mode, with the flash appearing to meter better then the CP 5000, and we are more consistently getting good flash results, with the built in pop-up flash. Don't forget that the camera has a hot shoe and can accept speed lights, including several really nice units from Nikon such as the SB-80x. We have so far found the lens and zooming capabilities of the CP 5700 to be very good and we hope to get some great examples later today out at the parks. For those of you who are interested in getting one of these cameras now, or if you want more information, be sure to use our links below and go for it!
 
Nikon CoolPix 5700 Review Pages
 
ORDER THE NIKON COOLPIX 5700 AVAILABLE AT RITZ
 
 
 
 
 
NIKON LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE DIGICAM TECH SUPPORT SITE & BRIEF NEWS (07/25/02)
 
Nikon has added new features to its web site making it easier for Nikon Digital Camera owners to get tech support for their cameras, including free software downloads, firmware upgrades, FAQs, info. on accessories, contact information, and PDF files with software and camera user manuals. Here is the press release with links to the new Nikon Digital Camera Tech Support Site.

Nikon Launches New Digital Tech Support Center on NikonUSA.com

New Addition to Product Site Offers Digital Product Owners Easy Access to Software Upgrades and Technical Service Information

MELVILLE, N.Y., July 25 - Nikon Inc., the world leader in photography, today announced the addition of a Digital Tech Support Center to the existing information and services provided on its product website, NikonUSA.com (www.nikonusa.com). Within the Digital Tech Support Center, visitors can now quickly and easily gain access to valuable technical information about Nikon digital imaging products, including product FAQs, firmware upgrades, new software uploads and various additional technical information for Nikon digital SLR cameras, Coolpix digital cameras and Coolscan film scanners.

"With the popularity of digital imaging, digital SLR photography and the expansion of our Coolpix line of consumer digital cameras, we recognize the great value in making our technical expertise readily available and at the fingertips of our customers," said Jerry Grossman, Vice President, marketing for consumer digital products and compact cameras at Nikon Inc. "With the incorporation of the Digital Tech Support Center into our NikonUSA website, Nikon digital camera and Coolscan owners can now log on to obtain the tools necessary to keep their products running at peak performance and utilize the latest technology."

The new Digital Tech Support Center includes the collection of information previously available through NikonTechUSA, combined with the user-friendly, NikonUSA interface. The result is a site where digital camera and Coolscan owners can visit to learn about all digital product upgrades and technical service updates, information on repairs, Microsoft and Mac OS product compatibility and even upgrades and trial versions of NikonView and Capture browsing and photo-editing software.

Visitors will also find resources including FAQs and product manuals for popular Nikon digital cameras and scanners ready for download in PDF format.

To learn more about the Digital Tech Support Center, please visit the following webpage on NikonUSA: http://www.nikonusa.com/photography.

 

BRIEF NEWS (07/25/02

Imaging Resource has posted a detailed review of the new 6 megapixel DSLR Fuji S2 using a 3rd generation SuperCCD for improved image results. Dave Etchells liked the camera a lot. Check out the IR Fuji S2 findings!

We now have a brand new 5 megapixel, 8x optical zoom Nikon Coolpix 5700 for review, and we will be posting samples and some initial impressions by this weekend. Our initial comments upon opening the box and checking the camera out are to note how relatively small and light weight it is for having such a powerful 8X optical zoom. This thing is fairly tiny and it looks very nice in black with a gold ring around the end of the lens. As many of you know we posted extensive coverage on the CP 5000, including a page showing the performance with all the accessory lenses. Now its time to compare how the 5700 stacks up! We have some great new shots from the CoolPix 4500 as well as some night shots from the D100 which we will post later tonight. We will also have some comparison shots between the 3 Nikon cameras taken out at Disneyland posted by the end of this weekend. We are going to try and take some scenic shots of the California Coast with these cameras on a short photo shoot trip Sunday and early next week, so stay tuned as we see how these new Nikon's perform!

If you are looking to buy a D100 keep checking with Ritz as we understand many cameras are shipping to buyers now and the wait may be shortest by using our online links. With repect the the Nikon Coolpix 5700, we understand that Ritz is going to have a link available for purchase soon, so check back in a few days for an update if you want to be one of the first to get one.

For those of you looking for even more information of the Forgent patent claim to licensing fees for the jpeg picture compression standard here are a few links. We are going to hold off just a little longer with any detailed commentary on this situation as the legal process unfolds. We have yet to see any reason for major concern that this will cost digital camera owners any significant price increases in the long run, but we will monitor the situation. For now check these articles out.

Forgent Networks Clarifies Licensing Arrangement

Patent Claim May Spell End of JPEG Standard

JPEG Press Release Concerning recent patent claims

 
 
 
 
NIKON D100 PRODUCTION SAMPLES POSTED (07/23/02)
 
We have posted our first set of Nikon D100 photos using a final production model. These photos were just taken out at Disneyland and Downtown Disneyland located in Anaheim, California in the afternoon and evening hours. We have indicated all the settings and the lens used to obtain these pictures on the gallery page at the link below. Most of the shots were taken using the built-in flash for a flash fill effect, with results that are just outstanding. We have to say that based upon our first use of the camera, we are very pleased with the outstanding colors the D100 produces. So far we have found the Auto Focus to work fast, the camera feels very solid & good to hold, (much lighter then the D1x we shot with for 2 months last year) and the shutter is quiet and smooth. The pictures we have posted include links to download the original files, or you can view them in 2 smaller sizes. In an effort to keep the jpeg compression low, the smaller pictures on the gallery page are still rather big in file size, as are the 1024 by 640 versions, which we saved using 100 quality, or very little compression. We will have a lot more information about our findings on the Nikon D100 as we test it over the next few weeks, and we will have a lot more samples to let you see how the camera is performing in real world settings. In addition, our first use of Nikon Capture 3 today was very positive as we loaded NEF raw data files in very quick times, and the controls over the images is very impressive. For now we hope you get a change to check out these initial pictures we are posting, we think you will agree they are very colorful, sharp and pleasing!
 
 
NIKON D100 DISNEYLAND GALLERY I
 
And for more infomation see our Nikon D100 review page, which we will be updated as we add more test results, samples and impressions.
 
Nikon D100 announcement & link to our Nikon D100 Preview Page
 
 

 

 

 

BRIEF UPDATES (07/21/02)

We have up-loaded a couple dozen shots taken from the Nikon Coolpix 4500 on Thursday evening at Downtown Disneyland. We have not had a chance to resize them put our normal sample pages together, but for those of you who want to see how the CP 4500 does, we are going to post a link to the index page which will allow you to download the original files, which are about 1.3 megs each. All shots were taken in fully automatic, no changes at all. We have to get going now, the haze is burning off, so off to shoot some more. We will have more later tonight. For you bird lovers be sure to check out picture no. 44, the camera did very well with this full zoom, close up from about 8 feet away. Here is the link to the CP 4500 Index Page.

Steve Sanders over at one of the most popular digital camera web sites on the web, Steve's Digicams has posted the first full review we have seen from a final production 5 megapixel, 8X optical zoom Coolpix 5700 camera. Steve had posted a "First Look" review of the CP 5700 (as did our other friends over at Imaging Resource) without any final conclusions back in May based upon a pre-production model. Steve has now had a chance to test out a final production model and along with posting some sample pictures, which you can view and download, he has now put up a fairly detailed final conclusion containing his findings and overall opinions. Steve give many high marks for this flagship camera in the Nikon Coolpix line, while pointing out a few areas he'd still like to see improvements in, but overall he says it comes down to final image quality and there is where he feels Nikon has delivered great results! Check out Steve's Nikon Coolpix 5700 full camera review.

As we pointed out last week, Steve has also just posted a full review of the new Coolpix 4500, which we received from Nikon last week and will be testing out at Disneyland all day today (OK, we are a bit cheap as our year pass is not good on Saturdays in the Summer, so we go out on our only other fully open day, Sundays)! We will post some very colorful and pleasing sample pictures from the Coolpix 4500 we were able to quickly grab out at Downtown Disney late Thursday afternoon, perhaps this morning before we head on out. It takes us about 7 - 8 hours round trip to shoot our standard areas which many of you regulars know we do of each camera so you can attempt to compare colors etc... of the same or similar scenes, and it further takes us about 4 hours or longer on the hotter draining type days, to set up the samples with links. We do have several other current 4 megapixel cameras, so we will try and get a few side by side samples to help you compare which camera results you prefer and we will try and add some key first impressions by tomorrow. We will post our First Look review of the CP 4500 hopefully by the end of the week and then a more final review with our conclusions after a few more weeks of testing at several other locations and under different lighting conditions.

Jeff Keller, over at another one of our other favorite and friendly digital camera web sites called the Digital Camera Resource Page, has posted a review of the recently released 5 megapixel Minolta Dimage 7i, which along with the Sony DSC-707, is in the same category (5 megapixel CCDs & large zoom lenses) as the new Nikon Coolpix 5700. In addition to the Dimage 7i review, Jeff had the opportunity to get side by side shots with Coolpix 5700, allowing us to see how each camera handles the same scenes. Jeff has also posted a set of samples pictures from the Nikon Coolpix 5700 as well as the CP 4500. We understood our CP 5700 review unit was sent or is on its way and now should arrive early this week, so we will have to wait until next weekend before we have our normal Disneyland samples and our first impression review up.

We understand that several web sites will be posting their final reviews based upon production models of the Nikon D100 over the next several days, with Fuji S2 reviews coming up any time now also. We will keep you updated as well as post links just as soon as they go up. We expect Phil Askey at his very helpful DPReview web site to post some very detailed test results comparing the D100 with the S2 any moment now. Phil indicated on his site that he was set back a few days with an illness, so we'd like to say we hope he is gets well soon and we all need to remember these are just cameras, so a delay here and there is understandable as good health is and should always be our top priority.

We hope to have some samples as well as an initial Nikon D100 First Look review up early this week. Please stay tuned as we are giving these 3 new Nikon cameras (CP 4500, CP 5700 & D100) are full attention over the next two weeks as after that we will be tied up with other work projects for about a month or more. Readers should remember that NikonUSA just got 3 new Coolpix cameras in to distribute along with the extremely popular D100, at the very same time frame and so taking care of all that business and getting all of us review sites review cameras in between has been no easy feat to accomplish. Please be patient for all of the web sites to post their reviews including us (we are working as fast as we can) and understand how helpful it is that these early web based reviews are made possible by the different companies in the first place!

While August has often been a slow month for new camera releases coming out and thus there are limited postings of samples, reviews etc..., as we recall last year there were a number of major announcements of new cameras for the fall season, so we expect that we will have some big news in August, especially with the huge PhotoKina photo trade show coming up in late September.

In addition, there are news stories now going around the web about a company called Forgent who is attempting to license the JPEG compression patents used in digital imaging. This may result in some fees being paid by the digital camera companies and certain software makers, however as a full time practicing attorney myself I have learned to use caution in these matters and from all I have read its a bit too early to see where this is heading and what ramifications if any (such as higher prices being passed on to products) it may have on you!

And for those who may have just had this thought occur to them, the answer is yes, I do shoot a lot of digital images with cameras for forensic purposes, or testing how they would work in such conditions, and digital images from digital cameras are used in Court without problems quite commonly now. One reason for the recent wider acceptance of projected or printed digital pictures includes that fact that most major insurance companies now document losses and accident scenes with the very same consumer level digital cameras featured on this site. You'd be surprised at how many big companies have gone digital and that lots and I mean lots of new digital cameras have been bought recently after checking out the excellent digicam related online resources available. Next time a tree lands on you roof, check out what the adjustor has in his hands, and I will bet you some good money its digital!

We would also like to comment that we did receive several e-mails from readers asking us to tone it down with links to buy from Ritz, and of course in addition to wanting to thank those of you who took time and wrote us in an effort to make our site better, we want you all to know that we are making an effort to strike a better balance. However, we would like to generally respond that contrary to some opinions out there, we are hearing that the vast majority who have used Ritz Online have been very happy with the prices, which have no sales tax or shipping fee added on, the price matching feature, and the ability to take cameras with minor issues into over 1,500 Ritz retail stores in order to get an immediate exchange. As an example, we have found no price cheaper anywhere retail or online for the Nikon D100 at $1999, and in fact many camera stores are charging $2,199 while demand is high. We feel that you will benefit from Ritz's huge buying power, given their 1500 stores, to get the cameras at about as cheap a price overall (considering gas, taxes, and other expenses) and that you will get some of these new cameras that are in high demand as fast if not faster then anywhere else. We have told Ritz that some of you are confused by the way their computer changes shipping dates, and I am told they are working on fixing a glitz in the program. We will keep the links down, but please, please, please, if you have not used Ritz do not spread rumors put out there by people with questionable motives. We ask you to use Ritz for good reasons, we partner with them for good reason, and you will get the product of your choice, and be happy, with good reason, and that is because Ritz delivers and they are quite successful for a reason. Lot's of us have been upset with Microsoft and other big, jealous making, profitable, innovative companies, but they stay profitable and go on for a reason! Ritz will not be replacing all camera stores, it will not be taking control from you, so please see it for what it is, a place to order your products, that your research has led you to want. Who cares where you got it from, isn't the most important thing getting it in the first place. Try Ritz before you knock it, will you?

Stay tuned, back soon with more!

 
 
 
 
EPSON ANNOUNCES NEW "ULTIMATE" PHOTO PRINTER AT MAC WORLD (07/17/02)
 
Epson America, Inc. has announced today at the start of the MacWorld Expo in New York their new Epson Stylus Photo 960 ink-jet printer. The new Photo Printer features 7 ink cartridges (6 colors for photos as there are two black ink cartridges which allow for faster text printing), 2880 by 1440 dpi high resolution printing, and an amazingly small 2 picoliter ink droplet volume using wide color gamut dye based inks, which we think will really set this printer apart from the competition. This printer is aimed at replacing the current Epson Photo Stylus 890 which provided print sizes up to 8 1/2 by 11 inches but now at twice the print speeds including full borderless 4 by 6 inch and 5 by 7 inch prints on Epson's very high quality photo paper. The new printer also supports roll paper (the roll holder is bundled in the box) including 4 inch wide rolls of the Premium Glossy photo paper for borderless prints that in our opinion do rival traditional photos. Not only that but the roll paper can then be automatically cut with the included paper cutter making this printer essentially a mini-photo lab. The new Photo 960 printer accepts media up to a thick 1.3mm and also supports the recently announced Print Image Matching II (PIM II) standard to allow easier automatic printing with the color space and many of the image control setting determined by information placed into the picture file by PIM enabled digital cameras. The Epson Stylus Photo 960 printer will be available in September at a suggested price of $349 and comes with Photoshop's just announced & really impressive Photoshop Elements 2.0 with many great new features and an improved version of Film Factory print software, which we actually do really like for basic & yet easy to do home printing needs. While this is the second time Epson has claimed to have produced the "ultimate" Photo Printer, they have answered Phil Askey's previous question ("does this mean no new photo printers ever again" with a "No", and this time we are truly very much in agreement that the features and quality are very very high on this printer, making it a top choice for all digital camera owners. Here are the highlights from the Epson press release from Wednesday afternoon.
 
Epson Introduces The Ultimate Digital Darkroom Printer: The EPSON Stylus Photo 960
 
Sleek New Printer Delivers Unmatched Photo Print Quality With the Industry's First Two-Picoliter Ink Droplet and an Impressive Set of Features Designed for Serious Digital Photography

NEW YORK - July 17, 2002 - Epson America Inc. is adding another superior product to its award-winning photo printer line and is debuting this new printer today at Macworld Expo. The EPSON Stylus Photo 960 is the successor to the popular EPSON Stylus Photo 890 and addresses the needs of a variety of customers including advanced amateur photographers, photography enthusiasts and hobbyists. With its amazing image quality and fast speeds, this printer is ideal for applications such as photo competitions, personal portfolios, professional illustrations and photographic presentations. The EPSON Stylus Photo 960 utilizes Epson's Advanced Micro Piezo ink jet technology, the world's first two-picoliter ink droplet and a superior six-color photo ink system for creating incredible detail, more accurate skin tones and an ultra-wide color range designed specifically for photography. This six-color system actually contains seven individual ink cartridges -- two black cartridges for faster text printing -- making this printer Epson's first dye-based model to use a separate ink cartridge system.
 
"The EPSON Stylus Photo 960 is another outstanding product from Epson. It builds upon all of the strengths that have distinguished our photo printers from other brands and includes new features that enhance the versatility and performance of the printer," said Parker Plaisted, product manager, photo imaging. "When you need your prints to look the absolute best that they possibly can, this is the printer that you want."
 
More About the EPSON Stylus Photo 960
The EPSON Stylus Photo 960 provides the best photo quality from inkjets today with its resolution up to 2880 x 1440 dpi, wide-gamut, dye-based inks and two-picoliter droplet size. This printer can not only produce "dotless" photo quality with smooth gradations for prints that are indistinguishable from traditional photos, but it can do it quickly as well. The EPSON Stylus Photo 960 offers fast photo printing speeds that are twice as fast as the previous model, allowing customers to print an 8" x 10" image in less than two minutes at 720 dpi on glossy and matte papers. Additionally, the printer can speed through black text with its twin black cartridges at up to 6 ppm. By utilizing innovations such as PRINT Image Matching technology and Epson's patented, true BorderFree(TM) photo printing technology, the EPSON Stylus Photo 960 is able to produce the best prints possible in a variety of frame-ready and portfolio-ready photo paper sizes. Customers can effortlessly print their photos on Epson's Borderless 4" x 6" and 5" x 7" photo papers without having to trim the borders or tear off perforations.
 
Media Choices with the EPSON Stylus Photo 960
Epson offers a wide variety of papers for use with the EPSON Stylus Photo 960 including EPSON Premium Semigloss Photo Paper, EPSON Premium Luster Photo Paper, EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper and EPSON ColorLife Paper. Additionally, the EPSON Stylus Photo 960 offers the convenience of three separate paper paths including the standard paper path, a roll paper path and a front loading, straight through paper path for thicker media. The straight paper path supports a variety of media up to 1.3 mm in thickness. Using the separate roll paper path, the printer supports edge-to-edge borderless printing on 4" and 8.3" roll paper. A roll paper holder is included with the printer, along with a convenient automatic cutter that will easily cut borderless and panoramic prints on roll paper as the prints come out of the printer, turning the printer into a mini-photolab. The cutter is safely enclosed in a detachable housing. Also included with the printer is a "photo catcher" that attaches to the printer and keeps prints in a neat stack as they are cut from the roll. The EPSON Stylus Photo 960 also produces long-lasting photos which can resist fading up to 25 years(a) with Epson's optimized combination of photo inks and fade-resistant papers, like Epson's Matte Paper Heavyweight.
 
PRINT Image Matching
The EPSON Stylus Photo 960 includes EPSON Software(TM) Film Factory(TM) with PRINT Image Matching support and a P.I.M. Plug-in for Adobe® Photoshop® 7.0, Photoshop 6.0 and Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0. PRINT Image Matching technology (P.I.M.), More information on the technology as well as a complete and current list of P.I.M.-compatible products is available at www.printimagematching.com.
 
Compatible with both Windows and Macintosh platforms, the printer features built-in parallel and USB 1.1 ports.
The EPSON Stylus Photo 960 will be available in September for an estimated street price of $349 through mail order, computer superstores, specialty camera stores, and Epson's retail Web site (www.epsonstore.com). The printer is backed by the one-year EPSON Exchange Warranty and is supported by the EPSON Connection, a customer support technical assistance line. More information about Epson and its products is available by calling 1-800-GO EPSON or visiting the company Web site at www.epson.com.
 

 

MACWORLD EXPO BEGINS TODAY IN NYC (07/17/02)

A quick reminder to those who follow the latest and greatest developments for the MAC, the MAC WORLD EXPO begins this morning at the Javits Center in New York City. Several major digital camera companies including Nikon, Canon & HP as well as photo printing companies such as Epson do have booths at the tradeshow and will be showing off their newest products. The keynote speech will once again be delivered by Steve Job to start the EXPO at 9:00 am today. There are usually a few big announcements made for new products during the keynote speech, so you may want to tune in this morning. The keynote speech by Steve Jobs is being shown LIVE in QuickTime streaming video from the Apple Web Site, and you may be able to watch replays at later times so check it out. We are not sure if the keynote speech is being shown only in the new MPEG 4 format now supported by the brand new QuickTime Version 6, but just in case allow enough time to download this new final version of QuickTime Version 6 which was just posted for free downloads on July 15, 2002. We have, and we tested all of their newly supported MPEG 4 video & audio samples, and all we can say is WOW! If you have not seen & heard MPEG 4 videos before and you have a fast connection, be sure to check them out. MPEG 4 does support mixing video with JPEG still picture image files for web presentations, so you may find it very interesting to see just how good it is.

For more information about the MAC WORLD EXPO check out the MAC WORLD EXPO web site.

UPDATE 8:00 am pst

The Steve Jobs Keynote speech is available for replay in case you missed it earlier this morning at the Apple Web Site. During the Keynote speech Steve Jobs announced new iPod music players at lower prices, with the 5 gig unit now just $299, the 10 gig unit in a new slimmer body is $399 and now a new huge 20 gig unit which can hold 4,000 songs for $499. Apple announced that for organization, playback and synching to your iPod there is available for downloading today a free new version 3 of iTunes. The iPod now supports storing and displaying both address book and new calendaring data in sync with what is input and updated on your iMac computer. However that's not all, Apple has announced the immediate release of new iPods for PCs. That's right, now you can buy iPods made for PCs in the same sizes, capacities and prices starting today (available for delivery in late August)! The new iPods for PC use the powerful MusicMatch software and songs are transferred from your PC to your portable iPod music player via a fast firewire connection. For more details check out the Apple iPod web page.

Steve Jobs also announced that the new version of the Mac operating system version 10.2 called Jaguar will have over 150 improved features and will be available sooner then anticipated, on August 24, 2002 instead of late September. During his near 2 hour presentation Steve Jobs went over many new and/or improved applications which will be bundled for free in the new Jaguar OS including an improved address book, improved calendaring software, new synching technology with Bluetooth and interaction with new GPRS phones. Although very little news came out of the MacWorld speech for digital cameras, the new .Mac service announced along with synching with always on new data cell phones with built in digital cameras should eventually bring about more advanced mobile technology to allow sending and receiving digital image files while on the road or away from your PC. Over the next few years it is expected that data transfer speeds will reach 150kbs.

Finally, Steve Jobs ended his speech with the announcement of a new bigger screen for the iMac, a 17 inch flat panel display which is equal in display size to a 19" inch monitor display. The new widescreen display iMacs will include a model which has the DVD SuperDrive for burning DVD movies and picture files onto 4.7 gig DVD-R disks at a price of $1999. For more information check out the Apple iMac web site.

 

 

 

 
CANON ANNOUNCES NEW PHOTO PRINTERS & PAPERS (07/16/02)
 
Canon has issued a press release announcing new photo printers and papers. Here are the highlights which reveal one new 6 ink jet printer the S830D which can print borderless prints at 2400 by 1200 dpi directly from memory cards or directly from select Canon digital cameras. The new S830D photo printer will be available in August for $399 and will come with a PCMCIA card adaptor which will accept most digital camera memory cards. Canon also has announced new photo papers to make prints which rival traditional photo prints. Here are highlights from the press release.
 
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. July 15, 2002 - Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ) today introduces two new Bubble Jet Direct photo printers and one entry-level Color Bubble Jet printer for the consumer and SOHO markets - the Canon S530D, S830D and S330. The four-color S530D and six-color S830D provide fast, high-quality, borderless photo prints directly from a removable memory card, through a PC or from Bubble Jet Direct-enabled Canon PowerShot digital cameras. The entry-level S330 Color Bubble Jet printer features borderless printing and Advanced MicroFine Droplet Technology™ for exceptional quality.
 
All of the new printers offer Exif Print support for easy, smart processing of digital images. To ensure optimal results from Canon's full line of Bubble Jet printers, the Company is also announcing today new Photo Paper Plus Glossy and Matte Photo Paper.
 
S530D and S830D Bubble Jet Direct photo printers -- These Canon printers connect directly to six Canon PowerShot digital cameras, including the S30, S40, G2, G2 Black, S200 and S330 via an included Bubble Jet Direct USB cable. This cable allows users to print directly from the camera without connecting to a computer. For those customers who want the ability to print photos directly but don't have a Bubble Jet Direct Canon camera, the printer has a PCMCIA Type II memory card slot so that virtually any brand camera's "digital film" can be inserted into the printer.
 
The S830D will be shipping in August 2002 with a Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $399 including the Bubble Jet Direct USB cable, PCMCIA Compact Flash adapter and a PCMCIA 4-in-1 adapter that accepts Memory Stick, Smart Media, Secure Digital, and Multi-Media Card type removable memory cards.
 
New Canon Photo Papers
Canon is also debuting two new photo papers, Photo Paper Plus Glossy and Matte Photo Paper, to support Canon's full line of Color Bubble Jet and Photo Printers.
Photo Paper Plus Glossy is manufactured to produce vivid photos that rival that of standard mini-lab prints at an economical price. With a 10.5-mil thickness and a high-gloss surface, pictures will have the look and feel of traditional photographs. Canon Matte Photo Paper is a new heavyweight paper designed for high-resolution images. The 8.5-mil thickness and instant-drying characteristics will reduce paper cockling while its non-glare surface allows for mounting, framing or other dynamic means of presentation.
 
Here is the link to the full text with many more details in the New Canon Photo Printers/Papers Press Release.
 
 
 
 
 
 
ADOBE RELEASES IMPROVED PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 2.0 (07/16/02)
 
Adobe has announced a new improved version 2.0 of their popular & more affordable digital image editing program Photoshop Elements. Adobe's Photoshop Elements is a powerful yet more affordable $99 digital picture editing program for the vast majority of digital camera owners who want to improve their digital photos for posting on the web, printing or e-mailing. Adobe is announcing even more helpful features & user suggested improvements are to be included in the new Version 2.0 including easier access to tools for more efficient work flow, side by side viewing of images for instant comparison of the original with the enhanced image, instant access to help files for "how to" instructions, one step resize and attach for easy e-mailing, video frame grabber for photos from video sources, file browser function for thumbnail viewing of files and Exif data, new editing tools such as color correction and creative effects, a new Selection Brush for masking unwanted areas for more precise editing, new paintbrush options, creation of PDF slideshows, and easier ways to print multiple pictures on a single sheet of photo paper.
 
The new 2.0 version of Adobe's Photoshop Elements will be available in the 3rd Quarter at most major retail stores and will sell for $99, with those wishing to upgrade from Version 1.0 having an option to do so at a price of $30 using a mail-in rebate coupon. Here is the press release from Adobe.
 
Adobe Delivers Ultimate Digital Camera Companion with Photoshop Elements 2.0

Powerful New Features Give Photo Enthusiasts a Digital Darkroom for Editing and Sharing Photos

SAN JOSE, Calif. - July 15, 2002--Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE - News), the leader in network publishing, today announced Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 2.0 software, with new features that simplify the process of editing digital photos. Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 is designed specifically for photo hobbyists and amateur photographers who want to enhance their digital images for printing, emailing or posting to the Web. As digital camera sales increase and technology becomes more affordable, photo enthusiasts are looking for new ways to improve their digital photos.
 
According to the April NPD Intelect report on retail software, Photoshop Elements is emerging as the leading mid-range photo-editing software, with more than 60 percent unit share in the United States. "Digital camera unit sales in North America are expected to grow to 18.7 million by 2007. Within this period, most digital camera users will desire easy-to-use tools for image editing and photo printing," said Michelle Slaughter, digital photography analyst at InfoTrends Research Group. "Photoshop Elements 2.0 offers a powerful feature set that is easy to use."
 
Based on extensive customer research and feedback, key enhancements to Photoshop Elements 2.0 give users easier access to the tools they need to be more efficient and creative with their photos. Users can apply common lighting and color correction in a single dialog window while viewing the original side-by-side with the modified version. Instant access to help files and "how to" recipes is readily available by typing key words such as "red-eye" into a help window on the toolbar. With one-step to resize and attach images, sharing photos via email is now much easier; and a new file browser lets users preview, sort and organize images in thumbnail form -- all without opening the files.
 
Photoshop Elements 2.0 gives users superior editing capabilities with new color correction, compositing and creative tools. The Color Variations feature now includes helpful tips and an updated design, giving the user a preview of real-time color adjustments prior to applying. The new Selection Brush masks unwanted areas of a photo for precise editing. New paintbrush options simulate oils, watercolors, charcoal, pastels, and different canvas textures so users can add creative touches to their photos. Also, users can capture individual frames from video clips, which are saved as still images for editing and sharing electronically.
Photoshop Elements solves the common problem of sharing multiple photos. Users can now create slideshows in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) that can be displayed on any device that supports the Adobe Acrobat® Reader® software. This includes Palm handhelds, Pocket PC and any system running the Windows® or Mac operating system.
Photoshop Elements 2.0 supports the leading operating systems, including Windows XP and Mac OS X.
 
 
 
 
 
GUIDELINES & TIPS FOR NEW DSLR OWNERS POSTED (07/15/02)
 
In an effort to help many of you who are considering the purchase of a new Digital SLR or for the many who have just bought your first one but would like some basic guidelines and tips, we have posted an article which we hope may be useful. Its not too long and it may just bring your attention to some issues you really should be aware of early on. Give it try!
 
GUIDELINES & TIPS FOR NEW DSLR OWNERS
 
 
 

WEEKEND NEWS BRIEFS (07/13/02)

(Updated 07/14/02)

We will be posting an article containing guidelines and tips for those of you who are new users & buyers of the current batch of Digital SLRs, so come back later tonight. Right now the Nikon D100 remains the easiest camera to get a hold of as Nikon is shipping larger volumes compared to the Canon D60, and the Fuji S2 is still not shipping here in the USA. The Nikon Coolpix 4500 should be shipping from Ritz this week with the Coolpix 5700 not far behind. We will continue to keep you posted on the availability of these cameras.

We are also in contact with the Sigma folks we met at PMA and we are trying to get you the latest on the new SD9 DSLR with a Foveon chip, so stay tuned as we are getting new info. all of the time.

For information on three of the current hottest selling Nikon Cameras, check out our special review/overview pages with our impressions using them in the field as well as specs, features, links to other reviews, sample pictures and of course direct links to buy them at RitzCameras.Com. Remember use our links and banners to go buy any of the fine cameras you may choose at Ritz, as such purchases do help support this site, for which we thank you very much!

NIKON CP 2500 OVERVIEW PAGE, SAMPLES & SPECIFICATIONS
NIKON 5000 OVERVIEW PAGE, SAMPLES & SPECIFICATIONS
NIKON D1X OVERVIEW PAGE, SAMPLES & COMMENTS

Also, please check out this link to look for lots of good info. about almost 70 specific new cameras at our:

2002 List/Data for New Digital Cameras

One of our most viewed pages remains our:

PMA 2002 SPECIAL REPORT PAGE & PHOTO TOUR PAGE

 

NIKON COOLPIX 4500 & CASIO EXILIM REVIEWS POSTED AT STEVE'S DIGICAMS

Steve Sanders over at Steve's Digicams has posted the first Nikon Coolpix 4500 Review of a final production model that we have been able to find on the Web. We will have a review unit from Nikon this week and will post our findings as well as sample pictures in a few days.

Remember you can get further information such as a list of features and specification from our Coolpix 4500 Preview page.

Steve's Digicams has also just posted a Casio Exilim EX-S1 review.

 

STAY TUNED FOR NIKON COOLPIX 5700 REVIEWS THIS WEEK!

Reviews of the Nikon Coolpix 5700 should start to show up on the Web early next week. Again we understand that we will have a review unit early next week and we will post our info. as soon as we can. Also, remember you can check out our Nikon CoolPix 5700 Preview Page.

 

NIKON D100 REVIEWS & NEWS POSTED AROUND THE WEB

Thom Hogan, author of several great books on how to use Nikon Cameras has posted a his Review of the Nikon D100. Thom provides an easy to read view of the new Nikon Digital SLR and how it shapes up. We suggest anyone considering purchase of the Nikon D100 to check out this and all of the other reviews we are linking to including the details previews at Steve's Digicams, DPReview and Imaging Resources (see our links above).

Respected Nikon Wildlife Photographer Moose Peterson has posted his Review of the Nikon D100 which he has been testing for the past three weeks. We are still working on getting our review and D100 samples posted for you just as soon as we are able to, so stay tuned as we hope to have an update later today.

Right now you can check out our Nikon D100 Preview Page.

 

FUJI S2 REVIEW BY MIKE CHANEY

In addition, Mike Chaney has posted a First Look Review of the Fuji S2. The Fuji S2 is hopefully going to start shipping in the very near future and we are trying our best to have a review unit soon to help you compare this fine Nikon lens mount camera with other choices you have right now. You can check out our Fuji S2 Preview Page.

 

CANON D60 ON BACKORDER DUE TO HIGH DEMAND

And do not forget that the Canon D60 is really a fine choice for you DSLR lovers. We have seen some great sample shots and from our handling of it, we think its a real winner even with just an average auto focus system many wish was faster. It is currently available for back order at most locations including our affiliate retail partner RitzCamera.Com, as it remains very popular but is not being produced in high quantities by Canon so it tends to take a long time to get one. However, the sooner you order one, the faster you will learn you unit is shipping so don't wait Check out our Canon EOS D60 info. page.

 

 

 

 

CANON D60 FIRMWARE UPGRADE POSTED (07/11/02)

Canon D60 owners will be glad to learn that Canon has issued a firmware update version 1.02, to correct a few early bugs. You can use the link to get to the Canon BeBit site to download the fix and install on your own, but do follow the instruction carefully or you will have to send your camera in to a service center. We applaud Canon's quick response to address these issues found by early buyers.

 

 

 

 

OLYMPUS ANNOUNCES NEW DIGITAL CAMERA PRICES (07/10/02)

We received word from Olympus on Tuesday that they have lowered prices for their current lineup of digital cameras. Here are the new prices. In addition see our story further below regarding their announcement Monday of the new Olympus C-4000 Zoom camera, a new full featured 4 megapixel camera for just $499.

New Prices for Olympus Digital Cameras 7/9/02:

D-380 $ 199.00
D-520 $ 299.00
D-550 $ 399.00
C-720 $599.00
C-3020 $499.00
D-40 $599.00
C-4040 $699.00
E-10 $1299.00
E-20N $1699.00

 

 

 

 

ARGUS ANNOUNCES 2 MEGAPIXEL CAMERA AT $149

Argus has issued a press release indicating that their new 2 megapixel DC3510 digital camera will sell for around $149. It has no optical zoom, but does have a 2X digital zoom, a 1.5 inch LCD monitor and built-in flash and it uses the new smaller SD memory cards. It can also be used as a PC Cam for video conferencing. It is expected to be available now for as low as $149 although its MSRP is $179. Here is the Argus Press Release and link to their web site for more information.

Argus DC3510 Digital Camera Breaks the $200 Price Barrier

New 2.1 Megapixel Camera Brings all the Features of the More Expensive Models to the Average Consumer

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. - July 8, 2002--Now everyone can afford a multi-megapixel digital camera. The new DC3510 from Argus Camera, a leading provider of quality digital, 35mm, Advanced Photo System (APS) and Power Zoom cameras, has broken the $200 price barrier bringing high-quality digital imaging to the average consumer. This menu-driven, 2.1 megapixel digital camera has all the features you would expect from a high-quality device including a 2X digital zoom lens, burst capability of two to five pictures per shot, eight megabytes of internal memory, an SD Card memory expansion slot, a macro setting for phenomenal one-to-one close-ups, a built-in 1.5-inch LCD monitor and a built-in flash. In addition, the DC3510 is one of the few digital cameras on the market that provides date and time stamping on every picture, so you have a chronological record of your latest expedition. This feature can also be useful for businesses that need to know when a photo was taken, such as photos of damage to cars or cargo for insurance purposes.

"This is an exciting new era in photography and should be open to anyone that wants to jump on board," says Bill Pearson, president of Argus Camera. "There is no reason why the average consumer shouldn't have the opportunity to experience what was once only available to those with $600 or more to spend."

The DC3510 can also be attached to any computer with an available USB port and has video and audio out capabilities, which allow it to be used as a PC or Web cam for video conferencing or chatting on line. Priced at $179, and expected to sell for as little as $149, the DC3510 comes with an extensive software package from MGI Software and will be available at most major retailers by the end of June. Visit the company's Web site at www.arguscamera.com

 

 

 

 

KODAK ANNOUNCES NEW LONGER LASTING BATTERY FOR DIGITAL CAMERAS (07/08/02)

Kodak has issued a press release about a new Kodak high performance oxy-alkaline AA battery which they claim will last 3X longer then other AA batteries, by taking three times the number of pictures in digital cameras. The new Kodak Max Digital Camera Battery will cost about the same as other premium non-rechargeable AA alkaline batteries and will be available in September. Here is the Kodak press release for more information.

New Kodak Max Digital Camera Battery Offers Up to 3X the Pictures Than Any AA Alkaline Battery In A Digital Camera

ROCHESTER, N.Y - July 8, 2002--Using digital cameras just got easier. Today Eastman Kodak Company unveiled the new Kodak Max Digital Camera Battery, a high-performance battery that lasts up to three times longer than AA alkaline predecessors in digital cameras.

Longer battery life translates into greater convenience and more picture opportunities. The non-rechargeable Kodak Max Digital Camera Battery offers the following benefits: the longest life AA alkaline battery (up to 3X the pictures) in a digital camera; convenience (no need for charging or chargers); excellent value (less expensive than AA lithium batteries)
In a series of tests, Kodak Max Digital Camera Batteries were compared with the AA-size high-drain alkaline batteries most often used in digital cameras. Results showed the Kodak battery enabled people to take up to three times the pictures than any AA alkaline battery in a digital still camera. This translates into 150 pictures with the new Kodak product versus approximately 40-50 pictures with a set of AA premium alkaline batteries when tested in a Kodak EasyShare DX3600 Zoom Digital Camera.

"Our new Kodak Max Digital Camera Battery addresses a top concern among digital camera users - battery life," said James DeJager, Technical Director for Consumer Imaging's Battery business. "As a long-time leader in the design and manufacture of digital camera products, including batteries, Kodak has delivered yet again a cutting-edge advance that makes the digital imaging experience easier than ever for consumers."

The AA-sized non-rechargeable oxy-alkaline battery fits almost 70 percent of digital cameras in the U.S. and 50 percent of digital cameras worldwide. The Kodak Max Digital Camera Battery joins the company's portfolio of high-performance batteries including: Kodak Max Alkaline Batteries, Kodak Max Rechargeable Batteries and Kodak Max Lithium Batteries. The Kodak Max Digital Camera Battery will be priced comparably to other premium AA alkaline batteries and will be available in photo departments of major retailers and photo specialty stores as early as September.

For additional information about Kodak, visit our web site on the Internet at: www.kodak.com.

 

 

 

OLYMPUS AMERICA ANNOUNCES NEW $500 FULL FEATURED 4.0 MEGAPIXEL CAMERA (07/09/02)

Olympus America has announced the Camedia C-4000 Zoom, a new 4 Megapixel digital camera with a f/2.8, 3X optical zoom lens, full manual operation and other advanced photographic features with a suggested price under $500. The camera is similar in style and features to last year's C-4040 Zoom camera with the main exception being a slightly slower f/2.8 lens compared to the f1/8 lens on the C-4040. In addition to a greatly reduced price and six unique scene program modes accessible with a new "Virtual Dialer", it has several new features including:

* Four "My Modes" to create four different custom camera settings.
* Selectable AF point.
* "Multi-Point Spot Average" metering mode.
* Super Macro focusing to 1".
* Histogram in Shooting and Review Modes.

The new Camedia C-4000 will come with an Auto-Connect USB cable, Video cable, carrying strap, lens cap with retainer cord, 2 LB-01 CR-V3 Lithium batteries, a 16MB SmartMedia card, Olympus CAMEDIA Master Software 4.0, limited warranty card, and user reference manual. It features a polished silver finish with metallic top and front covers for extra durability. An External TTL Flash Terminal is provided for the FL-40 TTL flash or for syncing to studio strobes and a large number of other accessories including add on lenses are available. The C-4000 ZOOM will be available August 2002 at a street price of $499.

Updated (07/10/02)

For further details see our Olympus Camedia C-4000 Zoom Overview Page

 

 

 

 

BRIEF UPDATES (07/03/02 - 07/06/02)

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!

We hope you had a wonderful 4th of July Holiday and for many of you that you get to take today off from work for a longer 4 day weekend! We attended really spectacular fireworks shows this year, and we do have a few good shots of the show from the San Clemente Pier in Southern California which were taken with an Olympus D40, 4 megapixel compact camera using the included remote control to shoot using manual shutter (from 2 to 3.5 seconds) and aperture controls (f5.6 & F8) on a mini-tripod.

 

 

 

 

NIKON D100 UPDATES

We have seen that many of you who ordered Nikon D100 cameras from RitzCamera.com on Sunday June 30, 2002 when we opened up online orders again are indicating that your units are already shipping to your homes or offices as of Wednesday July 3rd, 2002 (and some are getting them today!). This is a very pleasant surprise to us because after seeing the trickle of cameras from Canon for the D60 which also was in high demand long before orders were even being accepted, we thought the cameras would not ship until next week at the earliest. The reports we are seeing indicate that Ritz did get a huge shipment of Nikon D100 SLR cameras and they are able to ship orders much quicker then was anticipated. Accordingly, it appears that those of you searching for a Nikon D100 camera can still take advantage of the large volume Ritz is getting from Nikon, and that you can get a camera rather quickly even if ordered now.

RitzCamera.com has now added the full package contents of the Nikon D100 kit to their web site. All of the below items are included in the purchase of the D100 kit for the price of $1999.95. We have seen that many who have ordered through Ritz early on are being told that units are shipping on or before July 8, 2002. While current orders may take a bit longer, the web site is showing a shipment date of 7-14 days at the present time, and they do expect huge volumes from Nikon compared to the Canon D60 which remains very hard to get. You can click below to buy the D100 or learn more details at the Ritz.com site. Please use our link however to get to Ritz as your purchases help to support this site.

NIKON D100 Package Contents:
- D100 Digital SLR Camera
- Video Cable
- Neck-Strap (AN-D100)
- MH-18 Quick-Charger
- EN-EL3 Rechargeable Battery
- USB Cable 1.1 (UC-E4)
- LCD Monitor Cover
- Nikon View Version 5.1
- Body-Cap (BF-1A)
- Nikon Capture 3 ''Trial Version'' (with purchase and upgrade options included)

 

 

 

THE WHO ROCK ON!

We would briefly like to mention that we were absolutely blown away by the powerful performance of THE WHO at the Hollywood Bowl on Monday night, which was one of the best performances we have seen by any band in over 25 years plus of attending concerts. As a rock fan who became quite involved with film photography as a high school student shooting over 100 concerts in my youth, I chose to leave my digital cameras at home (we were planning on using press passes to shoot the concert with the Nikon D100) and instead decided to celebrate the music, which Pete and Roger dedicated to their life long friend and fellow band member, John Entwistle who passed away last Thursday. We fully enjoyed the concert and along with 18,000 others we let it serve as our tribute to a legend in the music industry who all fans will miss. While we respect other radio personalities who had other opinions about the concert going forward so quickly, as an attendee, we most strongly disagree with their criticism. We are glad the concert went forward, even though under difficult circumstances, and we support the decision of the band to honor John it the way they chose to do so. For those who would like to read about the concert and see a few press photos here are links and here.

 

 

 

 

FIREWORKS SHOTS

We will be posting some news updates over the next two days so be sure to check back, as we have gathered many items but have just not had a chance to post them all over the past two days. We also hope to get some good fireworks shots for posting again but for those who'd like to see a few early, here are some we were pleased with from last year using the Nikon D1x Digital SLR camera. The July 4th gallery below are especially quite colorful. Enjoy your holiday, be safe and sane, and try to get some fireworks shots yourself, its quite a fun photo shoot!

NIKON D1x DISNEYLAND FIREWORKS 07/03/01 SAMPLES

NIKON D1x DISNEYLAND FIREWORKS 07/01/01 BY DAVID RECTOR

JULY 4TH FIREWORKS GALLERY

 

 

 

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