NEWS! - News Archives

News Archive - October 2005
Return to:
Current News	Archive Index

Friday, October 28, 2005

Photo Talk Radio: Lens testing & SLRgear.com!
12:18 EDT - Imaging Resource Founder and Publisher Dave Etchells will soon be making another appearance on Photo Talk Radio, this time to discuss our newly launched photo review site, SLRgear.com.

The show will be broadcast live from 11AM - Noon Eastern Time tomorrow, Saturday October 29th, and Dave will be joined by PhotoTalk Radio hosts Howard Lipin and Michael A. Garcia, as well as two other... (More)

iNova releases 20D, Rebel XT eBooks
04:09 EDT - Peter iNova, the man behind a range of high-quality eBooks that help you get the most from your digital camera, has been in touch to let us know that since his last mention on our news page, he's released two new eBooks in cooperation with Uwe Steinmueller of the Digital Outback Photo website.

The "DSLR: Canon Digital Rebel XT EOS 350D" eBook is a comprehensive 546 pages long and includes 1485 images. The eBook also contains 533 Photoshop actions and 71 Photoshop CS effects, which... (More)

Fujifilm FinePix A345 Review
02:39 EDT - Fujifilm's FinePix digital cameras have always been associated with good image quality and color, with solid performance even at the lower-end of the line.

With a 4.1-megapixel CCD and 3x optical zoom lens, the Fujifilm A345 continues that tradition in an attractive new design, although we didn't feel that its color rendition was up to the level we've come... (More)

Review posted for Canon PowerShot SD550
02:00 EDT - Canon's ELPH line of digital cameras have consistently offered good image quality, user-friendly design, and excellent build quality, and the new Canon PowerShot SD550 is no exception.

While it's not actually that much smaller than the previous CompactFlash-based SD500 model, it feels a lot smaller, thanks no doubt to its sleek, curving body design. When it comes to picture taking, while... (More)

PRESS RELEASE: Announcing The Ultimate Raw Workflow Tool: RawShooter | premium 2006
00:33 EDT - $59.00 OCTOBER ONLY! Copenhagen, October 28th 2005: Danish digital imaging software specialists Pixmantec announce the release of the latest addition to their Photographers’ Toolbox applications for the camera RAW format, RawShooter | premium 2006. Building on the incredible success of the FREE RawShooter | essentials 2005 product (now with several hundred thousand copies installed worldwide),... (More)

Thursday, October 27, 2005

New firmware: EOS 20D, 20Da, Rebel XT
19:53 EDT - Canon Japan yesterday released new firmware for three digital SLR models - the EOS Digital Rebel XT / EOS 350D, EOS 20D, and EOS 20Da.

Version 1.0.3 of firmware for the Rebel XT fixes problems with inability to take shots with the RC-1 remote controller or continued scrolling through images in playback mode. The new firmware for the EOS... (More)

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

PRESS RELEASE: The Plugin Site Released Version 2.0c of ColorWasher for MacOS X
08:54 EDT - October 25, 2005 - The Plugin Site (www.thepluginsite.com) is pleased to announce Version 2.0c of ColorWasher for MacOS X, a plugin for correcting the colors, contrast, exposure and saturation of 8bit and 16bit photos. It works with various graphics applications, e.g. Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Illustrator, Fireworks, Painter, Canvas, Photoline and GraphicConverter. ColorWasher takes photo correction... (More)

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

PRESS RELEASE: New Canon Powershot SD430 Digital ELPH Wireless Lets Consumers Cut The Cord For Remote Connection To Printers And PCs
09:00 EDT - Wireless Print Adapter, Sleek New Design and User-Friendly Interface on SD430 Model Makes Wireless Photography and Printing Easy and Fun LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Oct. 25, 2005 – Imagine taking a family portrait from the living room and then wirelessly beaming that image to a printer in the home office without ever having to leave your seat. Sound like magic? It’s not. With the sleek new PowerShot... (More)

Canon announces wifi Digital ELPH
03:53 EDT - Canon Japan and Europe have today announced a new digital camera model that includes built-in wireless LAN connectivity.

The Canon PowerShot SD430 Digital ELPH Wireless is closely related to the existing SD450 model. Other than the addition of an 802.11b wireless LAN function, the SD430 has a slightly smaller 2.0"... (More)

Monday, October 24, 2005

Casio's EXILIM EX-Z750 digital camera. Courtesy of Casio, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins.

Review posted for Casio EX-Z750
10:29 EDT - Tiny and stylish, the Casio Exilim EX-Z750 is packed with features, but with its its 7.2-megapixel CCD and very fast shutter response it's also an impressive performer.

Toss in full Manual exposure mode and its 31 preset scene modes (not to mention Auto) and there's little this subcompact can't do. The mix of features and good performance should appeal to both novices... (More)

Casio's EXILIM CARD EX-S600 digital camera. Courtesy of Casio, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins.

Casio Japan, Europe: New EXILIM digicam
10:06 EDT - Press releases published today on opposite sides of the globe from the Japanese and European branches of electronics company Casio announce the upcoming launch of a new digital camera model, the EXILIM CARD EX-S600.

Closely based on the existing EX-S500 model, the EX-S600 features an updated CCD imager with higher resolution of six megapixels, as well as slightly closer macro focusing distance of 15 centimeters,... (More)

Friday, October 21, 2005

Imaging Resource launches SLRgear.com
09:15 EDT - We're proud to announce the launch of a new website that will help owners of digital SLRs choose the lenses and accessories that best fit their needs.

Much of the fun of SLR ownership comes from expanding your photographic arsenal. The camera itself is only the beginning of your journey: You'll be adding lenses, flash units, filters, camera bags, and... (More)

Kodak supplies hi-res imagers
08:54 EDT - A press release from Eastman Kodak Co. announces that its image sensors are featured in Phase One's latest high-resolution digital camera backs.

The 39 megapixel Kodak KAF-39000 CCD image sensor makes its debut in the Phase One P45 back, while the 31.6 megapixel Kodak KAF-31600 CCD image sensor debuts in the Phase One P30 back. Both digital backs... (More)

Epson's P-4000 photo viewer. Courtesy of Epson America Inc., with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins.

Epson USA announces P-4000 viewer
08:41 EDT - Epson America Inc., the US arm of Japanese manufacturer Seiko Epson Corp., has announced the availability of its P-4000 multimedia storage viewer device in the American market.

Announced a month ago in Japan, the P-4000 is an update to the existing P-2000 model, with the main change being a simple swap of the earlier model's 40GB hard disk drive to a larger 80GB type. The P-4000... (More)

PRESS RELEASE: Lensbabies Launches Macro Lens Set for Selective Focus Macro Photography
08:22 EDT - October 20, New York, NY. Today at the PhotoPlus Expo trade show, Lensbabies launched a set of macro lenses for use with its selective focus SLR camera lenses, Lensbaby 2.0 and the Original Lensbaby. The macro set consists of one +4 and one +10 macro lens that can be mounted to the front of the Lensbaby lens, allowing photographers to focusing in on minute details with eye popping Lensbaby effects.... (More)

PRESS RELEASE: DxO Labs Announces DxO Image Masters Showcase
00:10 EDT - A gallery of images by professional photographers and rising stars from around the world linked by a passion for photographic excellence. DxO Optics Pro image enhancement software is an indispensable part of their workflow. Paris, France October 20, 2005 - DxO Labs today announced its new photography gallery, DxO Image Masters, showcasing the work of professional photographers and rising stars from... (More)

Thursday, October 20, 2005

PRESS RELEASE: Digital Railroad Aligns With Picscout To Add Image Rights Tracking Services To Member Archives
22:26 EDT - Digital Railroad and PicScout Technology Services to Enable Members to Manage and Track Their Valuable Images New York & Herzeliya, Israel - October 20, 2005 - Digital Railroad (http://www.digitalrailroad.net) and PicScout (http://www.picscout.com) today announced an alliance to provide PicScout's proprietary Image Tracker Technology for image rights management. This premium service for Digital Railroad's... (More)

PRESS RELEASE: Phanfare, Inc. Announces Gift Certificate Program
22:22 EDT - Annual Memberships Available for Online Photo and Video-Sharing Site Just in Time for the Holidays Metuchen, NJ (October 19, 2005) - New Jersey-based online photo and video sharing service Phanfare, Inc. (http://www.phanfare.com) announces a gift certificate program just in time for the upcoming holidays. Gift certificates redeemable for annual Phanfare memberships are available now as an electronic... (More)

PRESS RELEASE: Phase One® improves efficiency and storage for professional photographers
21:11 EDT - Phase Ones 3S technology and P-series digital camera backs now provide the fastest and most secure solution for professional photographers Phase One®, the world leader in digital imaging solutions is constantly improving their Pseries digital backs to satisfy professional digital photographers' desire for faster captures and a more efficient workflow. Phase One today announces that its P-series... (More)

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Apple Introduces Aperture
20:18 EDT - Apple dips into the world of Raw image editing with a new software product engineered to make working with Raw as simple as working with JPEG images.

Apple's $499 Aperture "post production tool" for professional photographers offers an alternative Raw workflow the focuses on tools to compare and select images, edit them non-destructively and color manage... (More)

Photoflex Debuts First Studio Line of Consumer Tungsten Lights & Lighting Kits
7:53 EDT - Photoflex has launched its new First Studio lighting kits for digital photographers with both portrait and product kits. The LiteIgloo photo tent included in the product kit is also available separately in three sizes. (More)

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Digital Foci's Image Moments IMT-080 LCD picture frame. Courtesy of Digital Foci, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins.

Digital Foci: new 8-inch LCD picture frame
22:13 EDT - Los Angeles, California-based Digital Foci Inc. has today unveiled its unusually named "Image Moments", an eight inch LCD picture frame compatible with CompactFlash cards, SmartMedia, Secure Digital, MultiMediaCard, and Memory Stick media.

The Image Moments frame, model number IMT-080, has a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, and supports images in JPEG format. Movies can also be played, with MPEG1, MPEG2, and MJPEG formats accepted, and the... (More)

Lexar announces new CF reader
17:04 EDT - A press release today from Lexar Media Inc. has announced the release of two new CompactFlash card readers claimed to have read and write speeds in excess of 10MB/second.

Available in variants for USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 FireWire, the Lexar Professional CompactFlash Readers are stackable, and support Lexar's ActiveMemory and LockTight technologies. ActiveMemory provides a... (More)

Monday, October 17, 2005

Pentax's OptioWP digital camera. Courtesy of Pentax, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins.

Review posted for the Pentax Optio WP
15:24 EDT - Pentax's Optio WP's sturdy plastic body and waterproof seals give peace of mind when traveling, letting users take the camera along regardless of weather or your planned activities.

The WP's fully automatic exposure control performs reasonably well in a wide variety of conditions, although the camera does tend to underexpose significantly. For more difficult shooting conditions, an... (More)

CCD failures: More to the story?
10:21 EDT - Since last week when we published our coverage of the CCD sensor failures disclosed by several digital camera manufacturers, the story has continued to develop.

NOTE: Since this item was published, we have compiled a new and more in depth source of information on this issue. Please consider visiting our article CCD Sensor Problems in Consumer Imaging Products... (More)

Bibble v4.4 released
08:27 EDT - A press release this morning from Bibble Labs, the company behind the popular RAW file converter Bibble, announces an updated version of that program.

The new release, Bibble version 4.4, is available for Windows, Macintosh and Linux systems. It includes support for the following new camera models: Canon EOS 5D; Canon EOS-1D Mark II N; Konica Minolta... (More)

Picasa upgraded
07:34 EDT - News of a new release of Picasa, a popular (and free) photo management program, has reached our mailbox.

First launched by Lifescape Solutions Inc. back at the 2002 Comdex Fall tradeshow, and later taken over by internet heavyweight Google Inc., Picasa is a rather stylish, attractive and functional option... (More)

Friday, October 14, 2005

PRESS RELEASE: Pacific Digital MemoryFrames to Integrate AOL Pictures for Easy Digital Photo Sharing; AOL Pictures is First Online Photo Service to Be Compatible with Next-Generation Digital Picture Frame
16:38 EDT - NEW YORK -- Oct. 14, 2005 -- Demonstrations to Be Shown at DigitalLife Show in Booth #355 & Booth #201 Pacific Digital's MemoryFrame digital picture frames (http://www.pacificdigital.com) are now enabled with sharing capabilities through the AOL Pictures online photo service (http://www.AOL.com/pictures). With this new integration, consumers can now easily view and share photos they've stored on... (More)

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Olympus Japan: CCD service advisory
09:56 EDT - Yet another service advisory - this time from the Japanese website of Olympus Corp. - now brings the number of companies having announced plans to repair digital cameras that have failing image sensors to seven.

Ricoh Global issues service advisory
09:28 EDT - Much as we predicted at the start of the week, service advisories for cameras with failing CCD image sensors continue to appear almost on a daily basis.

Canon: EOS Capture updated
08:42 EDT - Following in the footsteps of firmware updates we've reported on recently and a new version of its Digital Photo Professional application, Canon USA is now offering an update to its EOS Capture application for EOS digital SLRs.

Canon EOS Capture v1.5, available for both Windows and Mac OS X, features two changes from v1.3: The EOS 5D and EOS 1-D Mark II N have been newly added to the supported models. The problem wherein uninstallation... (More)

PRESS RELEASE: Although Guangdong is Currently the Primary Manufacturing Center for Digital Cameras in China, the Tianjin Province is Emerging as the New Production Center
08:15 EDT - DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 13, 2005--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c25793) has announced the addition of Digital Cameras in China and Taiwan to their offering The global digital camera business was estimated to be worth US$24 billion in 2004. A significant part of this business comes from mainland China and Taiwan -- regions which have become known as... (More)

PRESS RELEASE: Master Your Digital Camera With DigitalCameraEbook.com
08:03 EDT - DigitalCameraEbook.com provides an Interactive Learning Suite that teaches users how to become expert digital photographers. Seven key software packages, digital camera basics, and over 130 other topics are covered through the use of interactive animations, tutorials, simulations, graphics, and calculators. For users looking to purchase a digital camera, monitor, printer, or accessories, the software... (More)

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Nikon USA: digicam service advisory
10:36 EDT - Nikon USA has now published its service advisory for the Coolpix SQ, Coolpix 3100, and Coolpix 5700 digital cameras, mirroring advisories from Nikon Europe and Japan which we pointed to yesterday.

Canon 1D Mk II/1Ds MkII firmware
10:20 EDT - Canon U.S.A. Inc. yesterday released updated firmware for two of its professional single-lens reflex digital SLR models.

Version 1.2.4 of firmware for the EOS-1D Mark II has two changes as follows: Fixes a file-numbering error that occurred during Bulb shooting. Improves communication reliability when using some CF cards.... (More)

Pentax, Samsung to cooperate on DSLRs
09:30 EDT - A press release distributed today by Pentax Corp. announces that the company will cooperate with a unit of Korea's Samsung Group to jointly develop single-lens reflex digital cameras.

Pentax will join forces with Samsung Techwin Co. Ltd. in a move that will mirror two similar alliances we've covered in the past. Japan's Sony Corp. and Konica Minolta Photo Imaging Inc. announced an alliance... (More)

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Nikon: Digicam service advisories
14:35 EDT - The Japanese and European branches of camera company Nikon Corp. have both now published service advisories describing electronic component failures in its digital cameras.

Monday, October 10, 2005

CCD failures: the bigger picture (UPDATED)
11:30 EDT - Visitors to this site will doubtless have noticed a common thread across several of our recent news items: We've reported on digital camera service advisories from no less than four manufacturers, with all four offering to fix certain problems experienced by their customers regardless of warranty status.

Fujifilm Germany: FinePix F460 announced (UPDATED)
04:43 EDT - While researching the previous item on Fujifilm UK's announcement of the FinePix Z2 Zoom, we found yet another model that looks to have been announced in Europe only - this time in the German market.

The Fujifilm FinePix F460 is a five megapixel camera with a 3x optical zoom Fujinon-branded lens that follows the current trend with a large 2.5-inch LCD display, but no optical viewfinder. The F460 draws... (More)

Fujifilm UK: FinePix Z2 Zoom (UPDATED)
01:44 EDT - A press release from Fujifilm UK today has announced the new FinePix Z2 Zoom digital camera, coming as rather a surprise to us since even the company's head office in Japan has published no information on the camera at the moment.

The FinePix Z2 Zoom is an update to the existing Z1 model with only a handful of changes, in much the same manner as the recent announcement of the F11 Zoom model offered a slight upgrade to the existing... (More)

Saturday, October 8, 2005

Konica Minolta posts service advisory
15:37 EDT - Continuing the sudden flood of announcements from digital camera manufacturers of problems in models based on certain CCD imagers, Konica Minolta has also published a service advisory identifying certain affected models in its lineup.

Fujifilm's FinePix S3 Pro digital camera. Courtesy of Fujifilm, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins.

Fujifilm drops S3 Pro pricing,
14:38 EDT - A press release today from Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc. has announced an adjustment in pricing for its FinePix S3 Pro digital SLR, a model we recently reviewed and called "unquestionably without equal anywhere in the digital camera market ... [when] it comes to preserving difficult highlights without disturbing the tonality or color rendition of the rest of the image".

First announced on February 5th 2004, the camera began shipping at the end of the year with a minimum advertised price (MAP) of US$2499. The S3 Pro features a SuperCCD SR II image sensor that delivers... (More)

Friday, October 7, 2005

Sony issues service advisories
12:45 EDT - Alongside announcements from Canon and Fujifilm, Sony USA has also now posted advisories on a range of CCD-based digital imaging products that may experience problems in operation.

Fujifilm USA: Digicam service advisories
12:28 EDT - Two service advisories have been posted on the website of Fujifilm USA that are similar to those posted by Canon USA which we reported on yesterday.

Review posted for the Konica Minolta DiMAGE X60
09:16 EDT - Continuing the trend of the entire Konica Minolta X-series cameras, the DiMAGE X60 is a very slim, small, and convenient digicam that offers just what most users want from this ultra-small category: good quality that they can take anywhere.

Its very big 2.5 inch LCD is excellent indoors or out in bright daylight, so the optical viewfinder is not necessarily missed. The X60's ergonomics are pretty well thought out, as it's comfortable to shoot... (More)

PRESS RELEASE: LifePics Introduces Customized Private Branded CD/Multi-Media Viewer Software
07:32 EDT - Boulder, CO - LifePics announced that it has added private branded CD viewer software to its online retail solution to drive even more orders to originating photofinishers. The LifePics CD viewer allows for any photofinisher to burn unlimited CDs with dealer branded software that auto-launches images, displays images in a slideshow, allows for simple online ordering of reprints to the originating... (More)

Digital Photo Professional updated
05:32 EDT - Canon USA has released an updated version of Digital Photo Professional, its software for browsing and converting RAW files.

Available as a free of charge download for current users of File Viewer Utility 1.1 - 1.3, EOS Viewer Utility 1.0 - 1.2, Digital Photo Professional 1.0 - 2.0.1, and RAW Image Task 1.2 - 2.2, Canon Digital... (More)

Thursday, October 6, 2005

Canon corrects digicam failures
17:06 EDT - A service notice on the website of Canon Asia describes a potential problem discovered by the company with a number of its CCD-based digital still cameras and camcorders.

Wednesday, October 5, 2005

Sigma DG teleconverters: English announcement
13:49 EDT - Sigma UK has today announced updated versions of its 1.4x and 2.0x tele converters optimised for use with digital SLRs.

Our friends over at the Digital Photography Review website have picked up an English language press release which mirrors the original Japanese announcement from the end of July. The converters both externally... (More)

Leaf: new 28 & 33mpix digital backs
12:26 EDT - According to a press release published on the Photo District News Online website, Leaf Systems Inc. (a Kodak company) has announced two new medium format digital camera backs.

The Leaf Aptus 65 and Aptus 75 offer resolutions of 28 and 33 megapixels respectively, and both include a 6 x 7cm (3.6 inch diagonal) touch-screen LCD display. The camera backs both offer a choice of uncompressed... (More)

Tuesday, October 4, 2005

Olympus' SP-700 digital camera. Courtesy of Olympus, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins.

Olympus announces Camedia SP-700
12:29 EDT - Olympus Japan and Europe have today announced a new camera model that will also be coming to the US market in limited numbers, although there's not currently a US press release announcing the model.

The Olympus Camedia SP-700 couples a six megapixel CCD imager with a prism-folded 3x optical zoom lens, and is notable for its use of a large three-inch HyperCrystal Sunshine LCD, following a recent trend... (More)

DxO: New versions, new pricing
08:00 EDT - French software company DxO Labs has today distributed three press releases that together announce a pretty significant group of changes for the company's lineup of software that aims to correct for common flaws in digital images with minimal user intervention.

Most importantly, the company has completely overhauled its pricing structure. Until now, DxO users have had to purchase lens modules for each lens that they intended to use with the software, with one... (More)

Monday, October 3, 2005

PRESS RELEASE: Two New Online Training Classes Now Available At Photoshopelementsuser.com
13:30 EDT - Photoshop Elements Techniques Also Offers Online Learning Centers Tampa, FL - Oct. 3, 2005 - Three months after launching its first online training class with impressive results, Photoshop Elements Techniques has tripled their lineup of classes. At the same time, they also launched two new Learning Centers to give users a first look at the features of Adobe's new versions of Photoshop® Elements... (More)

PRESS RELEASE: Fujifilm Launches Halloween Pandamonium: Lucky Families Nationwide Get Chance to Visit Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat; Campaign Celebrates Birth of Giant Panda Cub and Underscores a Shared Commitment to Conservation
12:34 EDT - VALHALLA, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 3, 2005--Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. today announced "Fujifilm Halloween Pandamonium," a national sweepstakes campaign being launched in conjunction with popular family events hosted by zoos across the country where Fujifilm will have a key presence this Halloween season. Fujifilm Halloween Pandamonium events will take place at the following zoos: the Bronx and... (More)

PRESS RELEASE: Corel Introduces Corel(r) Painter(tm) Essentials 3
12:28 EDT - New Addition to Corel's Digital Imaging Portfolio Inspires Home Users to Explore their Creativity with Digital Art and Photography Ottawa, Canada - October 3, 2005 - Corel Corporation today unveiled Corel(r) Painter(tm) Essentials 3, the complete home art studio built on the award-winning power of Corel Painter IX. The latest addition to Corel's digital imaging portfolio, Corel Painter Essentials... (More)

Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-N1 digital camera. Courtesy of Sony, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins.

Sony announces Cyber-shot DSC-N1
03:09 EDT - Sony Electronics has today unveiled a new compact digital camera model focused on sharing of images, courtesy of a larger-than-average LCD display and new album and slideshow functionality.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N1 features eight megapixel resolution from a newly developed CCD imager, rather than the imager we've seen used in a range of other eight megapixel cameras. This is coupled with... (More)

Return to:
Current News	Archive Index