August 2003 news and reviews

Olympus UK has today announced the official pricing for the E-1., lenses and accessories (the 'E-System') for the UK, as ever prices are quoted without VAT (value added tax) however we prefer to stick to prices including VAT. The Olympus E-1 MRSP is £1,408.83 (inc VAT), the Olympus E-1 Kit (which includes the 14-54 mm lens) is £1,820.08 (inc VAT). Full details inside.

Olympus have today announced the C-5000 Zoom. We don't have much information, except the press release from Olympus Europe, but it seems that its a 5 megapixel, 3x zoom model with a fair degree of manual control and appears to be a similar transition as was made from the C-4040 Zoom to the C-4000 Zoom, the new C-5000 Zoom looks like a cut-down C-5050 Zoom. Sales of the camera are expected to commence in autumn 2003.
Updated to add specifications.

SanDisk has today announced updated versions of its SanDisk Extreme(TM) line of high-performance CompactFlash and SD cards. The cards now deliver a minimum write speed of 9 megabytes per second (MB/sec.) and a minimum read speed of 10MB/sec. They have also been improved for use in extreme conditions, they will operate from well below freezing (minus 13 degrees F/minus 25 degrees C) to near boiling (185 degrees F/85 degrees C), and each card is ruggedized with a layer of heavy duty RTV silicone to withstand 3000 G-forces.

Gateway has today announced it is entering the digital camera market. It has launched four cameras, the DC-T50 and M-50 which are 5 megapixel and 3x zoom, the M-40 which is 4 megapixel and the DC-T20 which is 2 megapixel. The cameras are priced at $399, $299, $199 and $129.99 respectively. They are available through Gateway's retail stores, phone and Web site.

Casio has today announced a 'megapixel upgrade' to its EXILIM EX-Z3 model, the new EX-Z4 is essentially the same camera but now features a four megapixel 1/2.5" type CCD sensor. The EX-Z4 is powered by a dedicated Lithium-Ion battery which it charges on the supplied cradle stand. Storage is provided by the built-in 10 MB of flash RAM and an optional SD/MMC card. The EX-Z4 just like the EX-Z3 and S3 has a huge 2.0" LCD monitor (although it's resolution isn't fantastic).

Mission3-D has announced the launch of their Photo3-D™ product, the world's first affordable device that enables anyone to easily take 3-D photographs. Photo3-D works with any digital camera, and the full product package - Photo3-D 303 Kit - includes everything needed to easily take, see and share 3-D photographs. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the Photo3-D 303 Kit is US$129.

Konica (Japan) has today announced the DG-3Z digital camera, aimed at industrial use this rugged digital camera with its rubberised case and dustproofing can be used almost anywhere, it follows in the footsteps of the DG-2 of 2001 and the DG-1 of 1998. The DG-3Z has a 3.2 megapixel CCD and a 3x zoom (35-105 mm 35mm equiv.). It will cost approx. 99,800 YEN and should be available in September. At this stage we are not sure if this is a domestic only (Japan) product or will be available worldwide.

Fuji Photo Film has today announced the the Fujifilm FinePix S3000. This model replaces the existing FinePix 3800, and will be available to consumers in October. It has a 3.2 megapixel CCD, 6x optical and 3.2x digital zooms, movie recording without sound and several scene positioning modes. The FinePix S3000 comes bundled with a 16MB xD-Picture Card, four AA alkaline batteries, shoulder strap, USB cable, lens adapter ring, FinePix Viewer 4.1, and ImageMixer VCD 2 for FinePix. The camera will be available for purchase in October 2003 at the suggested list price of $399.99.

Olympus USA has sent us pricing for the entire E-1 D-SLR system, the new pricing includes approximate street prices. Olympus expect the E-1 body to have a street price of $1799, the 14-54 mm lens a street price of $499. That's a total starter price of $2298 before Kit discounts and Taxes which is more in line with the Kit pricing we recently announced for the UK. On average street prices appear to be approximately 20% lower than the MSRP.

Hitachi has today confirmed their 2 and 4 GB Microdrive (Compact Flash Type II). IBM Storage Technology and Hitachi Storage merged at the beginning of the year. At that time Hitachi Glboal Storage Technologies (HGST) announced that they would have a 4 GB Microdrive by the end of the year, today they have officially confirmed that they will be producing a 2 and 4 GB Microdrive. These higher capacities are made possible using Hitachi's patented "Pixie Dust" surface layer technology. Note that the 4 GB card will only work with a digital camera which supports the FAT32 filesystem. The 4 GB card will hit the shelves this November at a price of $499 (just $0.12/MB), a third of the price of Lexar's 4 GB 40x.

Software: Cerious Software has released its ThumbsPlus 6.0 for Windows. ThumbsPlus locates, views, edits, prints and organizes images, metafiles, fonts and multimedia files. The software contains easy to use wizards for optimized image and catalog printing, as well as to create web pages, slide shows and contact sheets. A versatile batch converter allows complex image manipulations with more than 300 editing functions.

Software: LumaPix has announce the latest version of its FotoFusion image managment and printing software. Formerlly called CollageFactory, the new version 2.0 adds one-click autocollage, drop shadows and frame borders, color correction, final resolution preview, photo swapping, improved printing and a revamped UI.

Canon has today announced the four megapixel PowerShot A80. As with all Canon's 'A' series digital cameras this one is aimed at the beginner, having said that it's far more feature rich than most entry level digital cameras with a flip-out and twist LCD monitor and a wide range of manual controls. Unlike the A60 and A70 which use the 1/2.7" type CCD (5.3 x 4.0 mm) the A80 has a 1/1.8" type CCD (7.2 x 5.3 mm) which actually gives it larger pixel size than its predecessors. The A80 maintains a three times optical zoom lens, AA battery power and Compact Flash storage.

Canon has today announced the EOS Digital Rebel (US name) / EOS-300D (Rest of world) / Kiss Digital (Japan name). This six megapixel digital SLR is essentially a feature reduced EOS-10D in the EOS-300's silver body (plastic). It will have a body only priced of $900 in the US, €1,100 in Europe and 120,000 YEN (US$1,013 / €911) in Japan. This camera will be available as a "body only kit" or a "with lens kit", the latter will include a new 18 - 55 mm EF-S lens which has been "optimized" for the size of the D-SLR sensor (sounds familiar).

Canon has today announced two new lenses to 'complement' the EOS-300D digital SLR. The first is the EF-S 18 - 55 mm F3.5 - F5.6 lens (28 - 90 mm equiv. FOV on the EOS-300D). To quote from Canon's press release "The more compact sensor size of the EOS 300D means the camera's reflex mirror can also be smaller, making it possible to bring the back of the lens closer to the image sensor. The 'S' in the EF S nomenclature stands for 'short back focus', which describes this new system." Also announced today is the EF 55 - 200 mm F4.5 - F5.6 II USM lens (88 - 320 mm equiv. FOV on the EOS-300D). Note that the new EF-S lens can only be used on EF-S compatible EOS SLR's (currently only the EOS-300D).

Kodak has today announced the 10x optical zoom, 4 megapixel DX6490. This camera is Kodak's first foray into the big zoom SLR-like prosumer category, priced at $499 it's certainly competitive. The 'Schneider-Kreuznach' lens provides an equivelant focal length range of 38 to 380 mm with a maximum aperture of F2.8 to F3.7, interestingly it also has a dual speed zoom mechanism which should be useful for quickly zooming and then applying subtle adjustment.

Ricoh has today announced the Caplio G4 digital camera. The new 3.24-megapixel, 3x optical zoom, Caplio G4 has a shutter response time of just 0.14 seconds (the fastest in its class), and a start-up time of 1.9 seconds. It has 8MB of internal memory expandable using SD memory cards.

Fujifilm Japan has today announced the WP-FX700 waterproof case for the new FinePix F700. The WP-FX700 allows you to use the FinePix F700 underwater to a depth of 40 m (131 ft). The case itself weighs just 313 g (11 oz) or 503 g (17.7 oz) including the camera. Accessories for the WP-FX700 include a macro flash adapter and balance weight which will provide neutral buoyancy. It is expected to go on sale in Japan in the third week of September with a recommended retail price of 25,000 YEN (approx. US$ 200).

13:00 CET: Sony has today revealed its new flagship prosumer digital camera, the Cybershot DSC-F828. The F828 carries on the tradition of a split body / lens design which we first saw on the DSC-F505, the F828 however is a very different beast. The F828 has a new Sony 2/3" type eight megapixel four color (RGBE) CCD sensor, coupled to this is one of the most impressive digital camera lenses ever seen, a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* seven times wide angle zoom (28 - 200 mm equiv.) with a maximum aperture of F2.0 - F2.8, better still zoom is controlled by a mechanically linked zoom ring. Oh yes, and it has RAW and a Compact Flash slot! We have had a pre-production DSC-F828 for a short amount of time, just long enough to produce a detailed nine page preview of this amazing camera.

13:00 CET: Sony has today announced the ultra-compact and stylish Cybershot DSC-U50. This $250 compact digital camera has a rotating lens element with a fixed focal length lens and a two megapixel CCD. The DSC-U50 is the first Sony Cybershot to record images to the smaller MemoryStick Duo format, so far only used on PDA's and mobile phones. The press release also makes note of a new 'Memory Stick Duo Pro', something we've not heard of before.

Fujifilm has today announced that its FinePix S2 Pro now supports the Macintosh OS X operating system. Fujifilm will bundle this upgrade with all FinePix S2 Pro cameras from August. The new software package also has new features including a new EXIF Extractor and updated versions of the RAW File converter LE, RAW File Converter EX Version 2.0 and Camera Shooting Software Version 2.0. Fujifilm also announced a price reduction for the FinePix S2 Pro, which is now available at a suggested price of $2295.

Just posted! Our full in-depth review of Canon's entry-level zoom PowerShot A70. This three megapixel three times optical zoom digital camera was announced at PMA earlier this year and is aimed at beginners or those on a budget, unlike most entry-level digital cameras the A70 sports a fairly good range of manual controls such as selectable ISO sensitivity, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual exposure mode. Read the full review to see how the A70 performed in our tests.

Fujifilm UK has launched an underwater housing for their FinePix F401 zoom & F410 zoom models. The housing provides the ability to control all camera functions on both cameras down to a depth of 40m. The kit comes complete with a new O-Ring & O-Ring grease and user instructions.

Thanks to Andreas P for noting that Pentax Japan has just posted three sample image from the *ist D digital SLR. We recently posted our exclusive *ist D preview but at that time the camera we had was too early to be used for sample images. Those curious about the *ist D's image quality can now at least have something to work from.

HP has today announced no less than four new digital cameras. The 435 and 635 (priced at $149 and $179 respectively) are entry level digital cameras. The 945 becomes HP's new flagship model with a five megapixel CCD and 8x zoom (see next news article). The 435 has a three megapixel CCD and a fixed focal length lens, the 635 has a two megapixel CCD and a three times optical zoom lens. In addition HP has also announced a new 'iPAQ Pocket Camera' which is a digital camera add-on for the iPAQ PDA.

HP has today announced the Photosmart 945. This camera is a progression from the 850 and features a similar body design, the same eight times optical zoom lens but now with a five megapixel CCD. The 945 also has a couple of unique features including HP's Adaptive Lighting technology (which we praised highly in our 935 review) and also a brand new feature; Digital Flash. Digital Flash works by analyzing the image and automatically brightening dark areas, similar to a fill-flash but without the flash! We have some exclusive hands-on images of the 945.

We finally have our hands on an initial production Olympus E-1 and can now bring you a range of sample images from Olympus's first lens interchangeable digital SLR and the first digital SLR based on the 4/3 System. The preview has been refreshed with some new images, updated information pages, updated display and menu captures. In addition we have added noise and resolution comparisons to the Canon EOS-10D, Nikon D100 and Fujifilm S2 Pro as well as an exclusive eighteen image samples gallery. UPDATE: Yamada @ digitalcamera.gr.jp also posts samples.

Panasonic has today announced the DMC-FZ2, this new camera appears to a development of the DMC-FZ1 which keeps the body design and 12x optical zoom stabilized F2.8 lens and two megapixel sensor. Indeed the changes appear to be under the skin, the FZ2 adds aperture and shutter prioirity, white balance fine tuning and color saturation control. As with the previous model the FZ2 will be available in both black and silver and is supplied with a lens hood.

Panasonic has today announced the Lumix DMC-LC43 and DMC-LC33 digital cameras. These two cameras are based around the same camera body with a Leica branded three times optical zoom lens, the DMC-LC43 has a four megapixel CCD, the DMC-LC33 has a three megapixel CCD. One thing that is interesting about the DMC-LC43 is that it uses a 1/2.5" type 4.23 million pixel sensor, to my knowledge this is the smallest four megapixel CCD so far used in a digital camera.

Foveon has released specifications for the 'Foveon X3 5M CMOS Image Sensor'. This is a very interesting sensor because it is the same size as the now almost standard 1/1.8" type used in many of todays compact digital cameras. The X3 5M has 4.53 MPS (million pixel sensors) in an array of 1420 x 1060 x 3 layers. This sensor is also capable of 640 x 480 full color video (3 colors per output pixel) at an impressive 30 frames per second using Foveon's Variable Pixel Size (VPS) capability. Could this be a sign that we will soon see consumer level digital cameras with X3 sensors? (Note: According to our friends at Imaging-Resource mention was made of this sensor back in March but until now we had not seen the specifications).

Pentax has today put official specifications to the *ist D digital SLR first seen at PMA earlier this year. Pentax are describing the six megapixel *ist D as the world's smallest and lightest lens-interchangeable digital SLR, and that's easy to believe when you see it beside the competition (see our preview). The *ist D has a Pentax KAF mount which is compatible with KAF2, KAF and KA mount lenses (as well as K, S, 67/645 lenses with adapters / restrictions). It has a sensitivity range of ISO 200 to 1600 (3200 as a boost option), has selectable color sapce, stores images on Compact Flash (Type I/II) and supports RAW format. We have an exclusive detailed preview of the Pentax *ist D available.

Pentax appear to have joined Nikon by announcing a new series of 'Digital Lenses' which are designed to provide an imaging circle smaller than 35 mm but large enough for the smaller 23.5 x 15.7 mm CCD's used. It's also clear indication that Pentax are happy with this sensor size and that the *ist D won't be their last digital SLR to use this size sensor. The Pentax-DA Zoom 16 - 45 mm F4 ED AL (tentative name) is a 2.8 times optical zoom lens and would provide the equivilent of a 24.5 - 69 mm field of view when used on the Pentax *ist D.

12:00 PM EST: Minolta has today announced a new Program/Maxxum Flash 2500(D) designed to complement the new DiMAGE A1 and DiMAGE Z1 digital cameras. "The new Minolta Program/Maxxum Flash 2500 (D) is the perfect complement to Minolta's Maxxum SLR film cameras and DiMAGE digital cameras," said Jon Sienkiewicz, vice president of marketing, Minolta Corporation's Consumer Products Group. "This new programmed flash unit is an accessory designed to obtain maximum compatibility between our film and digital cameras. It provides photographers with the most reliable flash exposure and the creative freedom they need to capture their visions on film or digital media, regardless of the existing lighting conditions."

12:00 PM EST: The new DiMAGE Z1 is a rather odd looking ten times optical zoom, three megapixel digital camera. The Z1 looks as though it has dropped out of a science fiction movie with its rounded body and separate hand grip. The camera is powered by four AA batteries and stores images on SD/MMC cards. It has a unique LCD monitor with a very impressive 60 frames per second refresh rate. It also provides an electronic viewfinder by blanking out the LCD and mirroring the image up through the eyepiece, this does away with needing a separate EVF LCD. We have some exclusive hands-on images of this camera.

12:00 PM EST: The second camera in Minoltas new camera announcements is the DiMAGE G500. The G500 has a five megapixel CCD sensor and a three times optical zoom lens. This camera appears to be the first which has come out of the union of Konica and Minolta, it looks an awful lot like the Konica KD-510 Zoom. "This new digital camera is a high quality image maker in a sleek, metal wrapper," said Jon Sienkiewicz, vice president of marketing, Minolta Corporation's Consumer Products Group. "The easy-to-use DiMAGE G500 is the perfect companion for any photographic occasion."

12:00 PM EST: As part of four new camera announcements Minolta has introduced the entry level DiMAGE E323. The E323 has a three megapixel sensor and three times optical zoom lens. "The new DiMAGE E323 provides fabulous digital images with point-and-shoot simplicity," said Jon Sienkiewicz, vice president of marketing, Minolta Corporation's Consumer Products Group. "This camera adds diversity to Minolta's digital camera lineup ensuring more choices for users of today's digital cameras."

Olympus Europe has announced the C-450 Zoom digital camera. The competitively priced C-450 offers a four megapixel sensor and three times optical zoom, as we would expect it stores its images on xD-Picture Card and is powered by AA batteries. It also has a 4x digital zoom and macro mode which can focus on objects just 20cm away.

Just posted! Our full in-depth review of the five megapixel compact PowerShot S50. The S50 is essentially an S45 with an upgraded sensor, it has the same features and controls, the same body shape (although different colors). The S45 has been strong in the four megapixel compact market, read our review to see how the S50 stacks up as a five megapixel camera. (Black bodied US model shown, we reviewed the silver bodied European model).

Just posted! Our full and in-depth review of HP's latest five megapixel compact digital camera. The 935 follows the body design of the 812 but other than that is a completely different animal. HP has clearly worked hard to improve image quality and features, the 935 delivers far better image quality than any previous HP, it also has a friendly and easy to understand interface. For the full story read the review and see how the camera measured up in our tests.

PowerEx (Maha) has announced three new Lithium-Ion battery packs designed to be a cheaper option to the camera manufacturer branded packs. These batteries are essentially identical to the supplied battery and are fully compatible with both camera and charger. In some cases the PowerEx batteries actually have more capacity than the standard battery. The MH-FM50 is compatible with Sony cameras which used the NP-FM50 battery, the MH-ENEL3 is compatible with tne Nikon D100 and the MH-NP200 is compatible with the Minolta DiMAGE X, Xi and Xt. These batteries are in addition to the wide range of compatible (cheaper than branded) Lithium-Ion batteries PowerEx already have.

Konica and Minolta have announced that they will be launching the new holding company "Konica Minolta" tomorrow (5 August). This comes after the two companies agreed on a merger back in early January 2003. The reorganization of the two groups is targetted to be completed 1 October 2003. In addition the two companies have also announced a new logo which takes the familiar Minolta logo but restlyes the lettering and adds the Konica prefix. "The oval form is an expression of the trust and feeling of security given to customers and the harmony of the wide spectrum of technology. The five lines represent light and express the wide range of technical capabilities in the field of imaging. The blue color of this symbol mark expresses ingenious innovation, and the color has been named 'Innovation Blue'."