Panasonic introduces LUMIX TS2, waterproof to 33 feet
In an attempt to catch up with Olympus and Canon in the waterproof camera market, Panasonic introduced the new LUMIX DMC-TS2, a successor to the company's first rugged digital camera designed for active outdoor use, the LUMIX DMC-TS1. Featuring HD video recording capability, the new 14.1-megapixel LUMIX TS2 further strengthens its toughness when compared to its predecessor and is waterproof to 33 feet, shockproof to 10 feet, freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit and dustproof. The TS2 has a 4.6X optical zoom that starts wide at 28mm, and a 2.7-inch high-res LCD. No word on pricing and availability yet. -- Posted Thursday, January 28, 2010 by chb

CIPA: 106 million digital cameras shipped in 2009
According to the Japan-based Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA), 106 million digital cameras were shipped worldwide in 2009, down from 119 million in 2008. Of the 106 million units, 96 million were compacts and 10 million digital SLRs. For 2010, CIPA predicts total shipments of 110 million units, 11 million of which dSLRs. -- Posted Tuesday, January 26, 2010 by chb

Eye-Fi Fo Fum
Looks like Google has an irresistible offer where you get a free 4GB Eye-Fi wireless SD card if you sign up for their Picasa 200GB storage plan. Read more... -- Posted Wednesday, January 20, 2010 by chb

Polaroid instant film and cameras are back!
Things looked dismal for Polaroid and its fans not so long ago, with the company bankrupt and production of instant film terminated. Well, Polaroid lives on as a new company which not only introduced new technology (cameras with integrated printers), but apparently will also offer an old-style instant film camera again. Film will be available, or IS available, thanks to The Impossible Project that launched Polapremium. -- Posted Wednesday, January 6, 2010 by chb

Casio, too, releases four new cameras
At CES, Casio unveiled four new digital cameras. The HIGH SPEED Exilim EX-FH100 (10.1 mp CMOS sensor, 10x optical zoom, starting wide at 24mm, 40 shot/second burst rate, high-speed movies at 1,000 fps, 420 fps, 240 fps, or 120 fps), the Exilim EX-H15 (14.1 mp, 10x optical starting wide at 24mm, 3-inch high-res 460k pixel LCD, active stabilizer), Exilim EX-Z2000 (14.1 mp, 5x optical starting wide at 26mm, 3-inch high-res 460k pixel LCD, active stabilizer), and the Exilim EX-Z550 (14.1 mp, 4x optical starting wide at 26mm, 2.7-inch high-res 230k pixel LCD, active stabilizer). All models can do 720p HD movies. The latter three all feature Casio's Dynamic Photo function that lets users edit and combine different moving images right on the camera. -- Posted Wednesday, January 6, 2010 by chb

Canon: Four new A-Series PowerShots
Canon unveiled the following four new entry-level cameras: PowerShot A3100 (12.1 megapixel, 2.7-inch LCD, 4X optical, optical image stabilization, US$179.99), PowerShot A3000 (10 megapixel, 2.7-inch LCD, 4X optical, optical zoom, image stabilization, US$149.99), PowerShot A495 (10.0 megapixel, 3.3x optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD, special modes, US$129.99), and the PowerShot A490 (10.0 megapixel, 3.3x optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD, US$109.99). The new cameras include tools to vary contrast and hue, max ISO is up to 3200, there is SDXC card support, and upload of pictures and videos is easier than ever. And a 10-megapixel Canon PowerShot for around $100? Gotta love it! -- Posted Wednesday, January 6, 2010 by chb

Kodak unveils four new cameras
Kodak introduced the following new digital cameras: EASYSHARE M580 (shown; 14MP, 8X optical wide angle Lens, 3-inch LCD, HD video, HDMI, US$199.95), EASYSHARE M575 (14MP, 5X optical wide angle, 3-inch LCD, HD video, US$179.95), EASYSHARE M550 (12MP, 5X optical wide angle, 2.7-inch LC, US $149.95), EASYSHARE M530 (12MP, 3X optical, 2.7-inch LCD, US$129.95). As you can see, great res even on the most basic model. If you pay more, you get a larger display, more megapixel, and HD video. As the name implies, Kodak also emphasizes easy sharing of pictures and videos to sites like Facebook, Kodak Gallery, Flickr and YouTube. All models come in various cool colors. -- Posted Wednesday, January 6, 2010 by chb

Kodak introduces rugged waterproof HD vidcam
Eastman Kodak Company introduced the KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera, a rugged, durable and pocket-size HD video camera with a 2-inch display, a SDHC card slot for up to 32GB, and ability to capture full 1080p HD video. There's HDMI output (cable included), face tracking, electronic image stabilization, the camera can handle ten feet of water without extra housing, you can also capture 5-megapixel stills, and it'll be available in April 2010 for just US$149. -- Posted Wednesday, January 6, 2010 by chb

Full review: Olympus E-620 with PT-E06 underwater case
The Olympus E-620 is a versatile 12.3-megapixel digital SLR that offers an excellent balance of performance, quality and features in a package of modest size and weight. Combined with the Olympus PT-E06 underwater housing and a couple of Olympus UFL-2 underwater strobes, it makes for perhaps the best consumer-level underwater camera rig we've tested. The camera itself lists for US$699 with a 14-42mm Zuiko Digital lens. [Read full review of the Olympus E-620 digital SLR camera with PT-E06 underwater housing] -- Posted Thursday, December 31, 2009 by chb

The best photo books of 2009
There's a lot of good photography books out there, and you can learn a lot from them. Editor Carol Cotton picked the best ones of 2009, including a description of each. [See the Best Photography Books of 2009] -- Posted Thursday, December 31, 2009 by chb

A camera you can buy at Home Depot
Why a camera specially created for jobsites? Because things get dropped, crushed and rained on at job sites. Regular digital cameras cannot handle that, so why not having a camera that's just as tough as all the other tools? Enter the US$199 8-megapixel Ryobi Durashot, a tough camera that can also take up to 800 pictures on a single charge of a battery it shares with Ryobi tools. [See description and specs of the Ryobi Durashot] -- Posted Tuesday, December 15, 2009 by chb

Casio unveils world's slimmest waterproof, dustproof and shock-resistant camera
Given that Casio has been selling tough and rugged G-SHOCK watches for over a quarter of a century, one might wonder what took the company so long to enter the increasingly lucrative water/shock/dust/crush-proof segment of the digital camera market currently dominated by the likes of Olympus, Pentax, Canon and Panasonic. Whatever Casio's reasons were, Casio now has a tough waterproof camera of its own, the new 12.1-megapixel Exilim EX-G1. [See description and specs of the Casio Exilim EX-G1] -- Posted Wednesday, November 18, 2009 by chb

Adobe announces release candidates
Adobe announced the Photoshop Camera Raw 5.6, Lightroom 2.6 and DNG Converter 5.6 Release Candidates, available for immediate download on Adobe Labs. The Lightroom 2.6 Release Candidate is available as a free download for existing Lightroom 2 customers, and the Photoshop Camera Raw 5.6 Release Candidate is available as a free download for existing customers of Photoshop CS4. -- Posted Wednesday, November 18, 2009 by chb

Olympus releases tweaked E-P2 PEN with attachable electronic viewfinder
Less than half a year after releasing the PEN E-P1, Olympus followed up with the E-P2, a seemingly puzzling development as the E-P2 is essentially the same but costs US$300 more ($1099 with a 14-42 lens vs. $799 for the E-P1). The idea of the PEN cameras, of course, is to offer SLR performance without the SLR bulk. Problem is that a LCD, no matter how large or great, really is no substitute for an SLR optical viewfinder. So the E-P2 comes with an attachable electronic viewfinder that plugs into a new accessory port (that can also accommodate an optional external microphone adapter). There's also fast AF tracking, new art filters and color enhancements, and manual exposure when shooting video. The big deal, though, is the included electronic viewfinder. For the next model, build it in? -- Posted Thursday, November 5, 2009 by chb

Is the dSLR camera headed for extinction?
Digital SLRs have come way down in price and more and more people are buying them. Some even say they'll eat into marketshare of inexpensive compact digicams. Not so, according to an excellent article in GearLog that takes a look at the historical significance of SLR cameras. See, most people bought SLRs because they generate better pictures. But with a new generation of cameras that approach SLR quality (such as the Olympus E-P1), DSLR may become expensive niche market products once again. [Read Death of the DSLR camera at GearLog] -- Posted Wednesday, October 28, 2009 by chb

Digital photo frames coming on strong
Digital photo frames will transition from an emerging to mainstream product category in 2009, when it will exceed 25% penetration in U.S. broadband households this holiday season, according to Parks Associates. Who'd have thought? When we started Digital Camera Magazine in 1998, people laughed at the very notion of a digital picture frame. -- Posted Tuesday, October 27, 2009 by chb

Review: Panasonic's waterproof, shockproof Lumix TS1
After years of building Toughbook computers, Panasonic has entered the waterproof/shockproof/dustproof camera market with the 12.1-megapixel TS1. The camera has a terrific folding 28-128mm equivalent zoom, can do 720p high definition video, and excels in picture quality. Max depth is limited to 10 feet though. [Read review of the Panasonic Lumix TS1]
-- Posted Wednesday, August 26, 2009 by chb

Review: Canon D10 at Thunderdome
We put Canon's waterproof, freezeproof and shockproof 12-megapixel digital camera to the ultimate test, at the submerged Thunderdome off the Turks and Caicos islands. Our impressions of the uniquely style US$339 Powershot D10 are overwhelmingly positive. [Read review of the Canon Powershot D10] -- Posted Sunday, August 23, 2009 by chb

Somewhat sobering outlook for Pentax
Reuters ran a somewhat sobering article on Pentax, which since 2007 has been part of glass-maker Hoya Corp. While aiming to turn Pentax profitable by next year, Hoya says there will need to be some sort of alliance with another company in the long term. While Pentax sold 2.3 million digital cameras in fiscal 2009, that's less than a tenth as many as market leader Canon. At DCR, we love and use Pentax cameras and hope "the little engine that could" will prevail. -- Posted Tuesday, August 18, 2009 by chb

Nikon introduces Coolpix S1000pj with integrated projector
It had to happen sooner or later. Nikon introduced the Coolpix S1000pj that has a built-in projector. Yes, you can project an image as large as 40 inches diagonally right from your little compact. The jury's out on how well it all works, but if it does work, then it's the start of something big. Else, the S1000pj is a nice 12-megapixel camera with a 2.7-inch screen and a 5X zoom that starts wide at 28mm. It's costly at US$429, but that's the price you pay for being a pioneer. [See description and specs of the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj] -- Posted Tuesday, August 4, 2009 by chb

New 12mp Panasonic Lumix FZ35 combines 18X zoom, High-Def video
Panasonic announced the LUMIX DMC-FZ35, a digital camera featuring 720P (1280 x 720 pixel) high-def video recording capability, combined with a 27mm wide-angle, 18x optical zoom LEICA DC lens. A successor to the FZ28, the 12.1 mega pixel-FZ35 has an a dedicated video record button, an extended battery life of approximately 470 pictures, a bright 2.7-inch LCD, HDMI output, and a suggested retail price of $399.95. [See product page] -- Posted Monday, July 27, 2009 by chb

Kodak retires Kodachrome
Eastman Kodak Company announced that it will retire KODACHROME Color Film this year, concluding its 74-year run as a photography icon. -- Posted Tuesday, June 23, 2009 by chb

Olympus Pen E-P1: the Mini Cooper of cameras
Just like the Mini Cooper revived a beloved icon in a retro package with modern technology, Olympus revived its super-compact 1960s era mechanical Pen F SLR camera that recorded on "half frame" 18x24mm film with the new Olympus Pen E-P1. The new 12.3-megapixel E-P1 is a "Micro Four Thirds" camera, which means it can use exchangeable lenses of that standard. Despite its fairly small size (4.7 x 2.7 x 1.4 inches), the camera is essentially the Olympus E-620 dSLR shoehorned into a small body without a mirror, without an optical viewfinder, and without a built-in flash. Prices start at a hefty US$699 for the body and US$799 for kit with a 14-42mm lens. -- Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2009 by chb

Eye-Fi unveils the Eye-Fi Pro cards
Eye-Fi unveiled the Eye-Fi Pro, a new wireless SDHC memory card for digital cameras that lets you automatically upload images straight from the camera to the computer and the Web. The Eye-Fi Pro includes RAW image support and peer-to-peer connectivity for a direct connection between the camera and a computer, no router or Internet connection required. Eye-Fi also announced that all Eye-Fi card users can now select which photos or videos they want to wirelessly transfer, using the new Selective Transfer feature. Eye-Fi wireless SD and SDHC memory cards range from US$49-$149 and are available at www.eye.fi, in store at Apple Retail Stores and Best Buy locations, and at major online retailers such as Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Costco.com. -- Posted Wednesday, June 10, 2009 by chb

Full report from PMA 2009
This year's PMA—the annual international convention and trade show of the Photo Marketing Association—took place at the Las Vegas Convention Center. It was a fairly sizable affair with attendees from almost 100 nations, 200 sessions, 400 speakers, and all the cool new camera and imaging gear that's now hitting the stores. [Read our full conference report of PMA 2009] -- Posted Sunday, June 7, 2009 by chb

Canon launches mobile website
Canon aficionados can now check out whatever Canon gear they are interested in right on their mobile device. The new Canon Mobile Reviews website is formatted specially for mobile devices and provides quick access to descriptions and both positive and negative reviews of just about anything Canon makes. Very handy. -- Posted Wednesday, May 27, 2009 by chb

Sony introduces three new dSLRS
Sony announced three new, easy-to-use α (Alpha) cameras (models DSLR-A380, DSLR-A330 and DSLR-A230), all designed to overcome challenges and intimidation that many customers feel when taking their first steps into DSLR photography – making it easy for newcomers to get the great photos they want, without a steep learning curve. The 10.2 megapixel α230 camera is the lightest, most compact alpha DSLR camera body ever at 15.9 ounces. The 10.2 megapixel α330 and the 14.2 megapixel α380 cameras are also smaller and lighter than their predecessor models (the DSLR-A300 and DSLR-A350, respectively). The α380L, α330L and α230L will cost about $850, $650 and $550, respectively. The L series one-lens kit comes with the SAL-1855 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 standard zoom lens.
-- Posted Thursday, May 21, 2009 by chb

Where GPS is headed: waterproof Garmin 550 with camera
An interesting example of where GPS units are headed are the newly released Garmin 550 and 550t. They are small rugged units for hiking, geocaching and other outdoorsy uses, and include U.S. topo maps, a barometric altimeter, 3-axis electronic compass, a microSD card slot and—for the first time—a 3.2-megapixel digital camera that geotags each picture with the location of where it was taken. Oh, and the devices carry an IPx7 rating, which means they are waterproof. -- Posted Thursday, May 7, 2009 by chb

Pure Digital releases high def Flip UltraHD with larger screen and HDMI interface
Inexpensive high definition video is here, and it is simpler than ever thanks to the new Flip UltraHD camcorder from Pure Digital. The pocket-size UltraHD has a larger 2-inch display, records in 1280 x 720 pixel 720p high definition format, and can now connect to HDTVs directly via an HDMI cable. 8GB of internal memory allow for a full two hours of recording. A rechargeable battery lasts about 2-1/2 hours. Add to that the onboard FlipShare software, and you have an absolutely unbeatable US$199.95 package. [See full review of the Pure Digital Flip UltraHD] -- Posted Saturday, May 2, 2009 by chb

Nikon announces Nikon D5000 dSLR movie mode
Nikon announced the D5000 Digital SLR that is meant to bring the speed and power of dSLR photography to a broad range of consumers. Highlights of the D5000 include 12.3-megapixel resolution, D-Movie mode with sound, 19 scene modes, live view, 4fps continuous shooting, ISO sensitivity from 200 to 3200, 11-point autofocus system with 3D focus tracking, and more. The camera with a 18-55mm VR lens lists for $849.95.
-- Posted Wednesday, April 22, 2009 by chb

Equity investment company acquires Polaroid
There was a time where almost everyone had a Polaroid instant camera. These days, what's left of Polaroid is in bankruptcy, and the name and assets have just been acquired by a joint venture of equity investment companies that also picked up The Sharper Image, Linens 'N Things and Bombay. The group plans on using the Polaroid brand recognition for a variety of innovative products. -- Posted Friday, April 17, 2009 by chb

Review: Liquid Image VideoMask 310
Now for something different! The VideoMask 310 by Liquid Image combines a 5-megapixel still/video camera into a scuba mask. You can use it to take pictures or record 720 x 480 pixel video onto a microSD card. This version of the mask is rated for 33 feet of depth, which means you can not only take it snorkeling, but also on many scuba dives. We tested the mask on real dives and came away quite impressed. [See full review of the Liquid Image VideoMask 310] -- Posted Wednesday, April 1, 2009 by chb

Wacom unveils next-gen Intuous4 graphics tablets
Wacom unveiled the Intuos4 professional pen tablet for photographers, designers and artists. The next generation Intuos emphasizes pen performance, is capable of capturing the slightest nuance of pen pressure against the tablet surface, as well as offering 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity. There are workflow and productivity tool such as customizable shortcut and modifier keys with accompanying OLED displays, which allow users to see what the keys are currently set to. The Intuos4 comes in four sizes - small (US$229), medium (US$369), large (US$499) and extra large (US$789). Corel announced support of the Intuous4 with its Corel Painter 11. -- Posted Thursday, March 26, 2009 by chb

Wireless Eye-Fi SD cards with higher capacity, lower prices
Eye-Fi announced its next generation of 4GB cards that lets you send videos straight from your camera to YouTube and Flickr. Eye-Fi cards have also come down in price: The 4GB Explore Video (MSRP $99) automatically geotags photos and videos; and offers hotspot access at more than 10,000+ Wi-Fi locations. The 4GB Share Video (MSRP $79) sends photo to the Web and your home computer. Eye-Fi's current line-up now costs less - $49 for the 2GB Eye-Fi Home and $59 for the 2GB Eye-Fi Share, both which upload photos only.
-- Posted Friday, March 6, 2009 by chb

Olympus introduces advanced entry-level E-620 dSLR
The US$699 12.3 megapixel Olympus Stylus E-620 dSLR was introduced in February of 2009. It is representative of the digital imaging industry's effort to make digital SLR cameras smaller, lighter and more advanced while at the same time adding the kinds of entertaining and useful features and functions that up to now have primarily been available in consumer point-and-shoot cameras. Consider it an advanced entry-level digital SLR with more than adquate resolution and some very nice features, among them the swivel LCD, the 7-point autofocus and the multiple aspect ratio shooting. [Read description and specs of the Olympus E-620 dSLR] -- Posted Wednesday, February 25, 2009 by chb

Fuji, too, launches a waterproof point-and-shooter
Everyone seems to be getting into waterproof cameras! The very small 10-megapixel FinePix Z33WP, available in four bright colors, is Fujifilm's entry, joining Olympus, Pentax, Panasonic, Canon and a number of specialty manufacturers. The camera's maximum depth rating of ten feet makes it suitable only for very shallow dives, but it's great for snorkeling and other activities in and around the water. The Z33PW has a large and bright 2.7-inch LCD display, a 3x optical zoom, digital anti blur, and some fun features and functions. If the 10-foot depth limit or lack of ruggedness doesn't cramp your style, the list price of US$199 makes this new Fuji a fun and very affordable choice among waterproof cameras. [See description and specs of the Fujifilm Z33WP] -- Posted Monday, February 23, 2009 by chb

PowerShot D10: Canon's first waterproof, freeze proof and shockproof camera
The 12-megapixel PowerShot D10 is Canon's first entry into the waterproof/rugged space. The camera is fairly large and heavy, but well equipped to handle most of the abuse it may encounter outdoors. It is dust and waterproof, and it can handle being dropped from up to four feet. Divers can take it down to 33 feet of depth, enough for many scuba adventures. The camera's controls are large and arranged so you can operate it with a glove. Optical lens stabilization reduces blur. Thanks to Canon's DIGIC 4 processor, the camera offers speedy operation, onboard image correction, and advanced face recognition modes. The list price is US$329. [See description and specs of the Canon PowerShot D10] -- Posted Wednesday, February 18, 2009 by chb

Pana enters the waterpropf/shockproof camera market
Panasonic has joined the increasingly popular market for waterproof, shockproof and dustproof cameras with the 12.1-megapixel TS1. The very compact camera has a 4.6x optical zoom that starts wide at 28mm, can be taken to a depth of ten feet, and handle a 5-foot drop. It has a 2.7-inch display and can also record 720P video. The TS1 comes in silver, green or orange and costs US$399, which means it'll compete with the even tougher Olympus Stylus 1030 SW and Tough-8000. -- Posted Thursday, January 29, 2009 by chb

Panasonic releases 12-mp touchscreen camera with high-def video
Panasonic announced its newest touch-screen LUMIX digital camera, the slim and stylish DMC-FX580, a successor to last year's DMC-FX500. The DMC-FX580 features a 25mm ultra-wideangle LEICA DC lens with F2.8 brightness, a 5x optical zoom and an increased recording image size from 10.1 to 12.1-megapixel. Touch-screen operation on the large 3.0-inch screen makes the new camera easy to use. The US$399 DMC-FX580 can also record High Definition (1280 x 720p) motion images at 30 fps. -- Posted Thursday, January 29, 2009 by chb

Scanbuy barcode reader app coming to camphones
Scanbuy announced that its ScanLife 2D barcode application will be pre-loaded on LG camera phones. The KF310 is already available with the application in Spain, and additional phones will be introduced in other markets. The ScanLife mobile app reads all major 2D barcode formats that connect the user to mobile content and information without typing in long URLs or search for info using keywords. It can also be downloaded for free from the phone's browser at www.getscanlife.com. -- Posted Friday, January 23, 2009 by chb

Full review: Bonica Snapper HDDV high-def underwater video system
Bonica offers a modular underwater high-definition video camera system that can record 1280 x 720 pixel video at up to 30 frames per second for very good 720p playback on a HDTV. A soft inner housing can be used for snorkeling and guards against flooding if the camera is used in its hard acrylic deepwater (180 feet) housing. Optional single or dual video lights have 30, 40 and 60 watt settings and can be easily adjusted via ball joints. The setup is very easy to use and can yield amazingly good video as well as decent still shots from its 5-megapixel CMOS imager. The inexpensive camera records on standard SD cards and needs about 2GB for each hour of video. [See full review with video of the Bonica Snapper HDDV high-definition underwater camcorder system] -- Posted Wednesday, January 14, 2009 by chb

10-megapixel Olympus Stylus Tough-6000
Like last year, Olympus offers cameras that are waterproof to 33 feet and thus suitable for diving, and others that are waterproof to 10 feet, but otherwise almost as tough. For 2009, the 10-foot slot is filled with the new Stylus Tough-6000, a modern 10-megapixel camera with an internal 3.6X optical zoom that starts wide, a terrific 2.7-inch LCD, dual image stabilization and a whole bag of features and tricks. [See description and specs of the Olympus Stylus Tough-6000] -- Posted Wednesday, January 7, 2009 by chb

12-megapixel Olympus Stylus Tough-8000
As part of its Winter 2009 lineup, Olympus introduced the 12-megapixel Stylus Tough-8000 as the new flagship of its renamed line of shockproof, freezeproof, crushproof, dustproof and waterproof (up to 33 feet) cameras. This is a camera you can truly take, and use, anywhere. Available in Black, silver and blue. [See description and specs of the Olympus Stylus Tough-8000] -- Posted Wednesday, January 7, 2009 by chb

Eye-Fi Developing Wireless Video Uploads Direct to YouTube
Eye-Fi Inc., makers of the world's first wireless memory card for digital cameras, announced that it is developing a way for users to wirelessly upload videos from their digital camera to YouTube and a home computer. Eye-Fi is designing its video upload service to support full-resolution HD video, with newer cameras now capturing HD video and Web sites including YouTube now testing display of HD video. -- Posted Wednesday, January 7, 2009 by chb

Eye-Fi offers 4GB Anniversary Edition wireless SD Card
Eye-Fi announced a new, limited edition card – the Eye-Fi Anniversary Edition – to celebrate the one-year anniversary of its first wireless SD memory card for digital cameras. The Eye-Fi Anniversary Edition doubles storage capacity to 4GB and features faster memory speeds. Like the Eye-Fi Share, the Anniversary Edition wirelessly sends photos from a digital camera to a computer and to one of more than 25 online photo sharing sites. The card is available at Costco.com for $99 to club members, or on www.eye.fi for $129, while supplies last. -- Posted Wednesday, November 12, 2008 by chb

Target's digital camera gift card
Now for something different: Target offers a gift "card" that can be loaded from $50 to $1000 and is also a digital camera. How's that for a novelty? It's not much of a camera (1.2mp, no features), but you do get 40 prints for free, and it's definitely a conversation piece. [Check the Target Digital Camera GiftCard] -- Posted Tuesday, November 11, 2008 by chb

Digital camera with integrated color printer!
Japanese Takara Tomy is showing the XIAO TIP-521, a 5-megapixel camera with an integrated color printer. That ability once was a huge hit with Polaroid cameras. Problem is that we want tiny cameras and large prints, whereas the XIAO measures about 6.0 x 3.05 x 1.0 inches and the 256-color prints are just 3x2. -- Posted Monday, November 10, 2008 by chb

Adobe unveils Creative Suite 4
Adobe announced the Adobe Creative Suite 4 product family, a milestone release of the industry-leading design and development software for virtually every creative workflow. There are hundreds of feature innovations as the Adobe CS 4 product line seeks to cover the creative process across print, Web, mobile, interactive, film and video production. There are six suites or full version upgrades of 13 stand-alone applications, including Photoshop CS4, Photoshop CS4 Extended, InDesign CS4, Illustrator CS4, Flash CS4 Professional, Dreamweaver CS4, After Effects CS4, and Adobe Premiere Pro CS4. Estimated street price for the Adobe CS4 Design Premium will be US$1799, US$1699 for CS 4 Web Premium, US$1699 for Adobe CS 4 Production Premium, and US$2499 for the CS 4 Master Collection. And to think it all started with just Photoshop so many years ago. -- Posted Tuesday, September 23, 2008 by chb

Review: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
In the olden days, the number of pictures we took was somewhat limited by the cost of film and making prints. Digital cameras eliminated that limitation as we can store hundreds of pictures on a small memory card and tens of thousands on a hard disk. How can we keep track of it all? Enter Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. It's a tool to simplify photography from shoot to finish, and a whole lot more. [Read review of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.0] -- Posted Sunday, September 21, 2008 by chb

Full review: Olympus Stylus 1030 SW
The Stylus 1030 SW is the camera a lot of divers and outdoor lovers have been waiting for. It brings 10-megapixel resolution to scuba diving without the need of an underwater case. It's also the most rugged Olympus Stylus camera yet, being able to survive huge drops from almost seven feet and freezing temperatures. We tested the 1030 SW during a week of diving on Roatan island, Honduras. [Read full review with underwater pics of the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW] -- Posted Friday, September 19, 2008 by chb

Review: SeaLife DC800
If you want a reasonably priced underwater camera from one of the experts in the field, try the SeaLife DC800. It is a sleek, modern 8-megapixel camera that comes with a tough underwater case good for depths to 200 feet. SeaLife also offers single and dual external flashes. What sets SeaLife cameras apart is special underwater modes and settings that really bring out the beauty of that wonderful world down there. Read our comprehensive review of the DC800 and see many sample shots from a trip to Roatan, Honduras. -- Posted Tuesday, September 16, 2008 by chb

Sony unveils first full-frame Alpha dSLR
Sony is introducing its full-frame a (alpha) DSLR-A900 camera, aimed at serious photo enthusiasts looking for traditional SLR performance with the added benefits of digital photography. It is designed to deliver ultra-fine picture quality with the world's highest resolution, 24.6-megapixel, 35 mm full-frame CMOS sensor and fast image processing with a new dual BIONZ processing engine. The camera is also the first to have a body-integrated image stabilization system for a full-frame sensor with Sony's SteadyShot Inside anti-shake system. The DSLR-A900 body will be available in November for about $3,000 along with related accessories. -- Posted Tuesday, September 9, 2008 by chb

Advanced 14.5 megapixel Coolpix pushes the limits
Nikon introduced the Coolpix S710 as part of its Fall 2008 lineup. With this camera Nikon pushes the resolution limit available in inexpensive consumer cameras even farther. You now get 14.5 megapixel, a number almost unimaginable just a few years ago. Compared to the 12.1 megapixel Coolpix S700 it replaces, the S710 offers a bit more in almost every respect: You get a 3.6X zoom instead of just a standard 3X. The display has grown to 3.0 inches. As far as sensitivity goes, the S710 can go up to an insanely high ISO 12,800. And the S710 offers Program, Aperture, Shutter, and Manual exposure modes in addition to the usual scene modes. Add to that the latest tricks and features and the US$379 S710 is a compelling buy. [Read description and specs of the Nikon Coolpix S710] -- Posted Thursday, August 14, 2008 by chb

Elegant new 10-megapixel Nikon with 3.5-inch touch screen
Ever since the Apple iPhone hit the market, touch screens have made a comeback. Nikon joins the party with the new 10-megapixel Coolpix that has a terrific high-res 3.5-inch touch screen that replaces all the hardware controls. The S60, which comes in five eye-catching colors, has an internal 5X folding optical zoom to bring things close. There is optical lens-shift image stabilization to reduce blur, and you can shoot at up to 3200 ISO. Like most new cameras, the US$349 S60 includes a wealth of in-camera goodies and technologies. [Read description and specs of the Nikon Coolpix S60] -- Posted Wednesday, August 13, 2008 by chb

And more digital imaging book reviews!
There are so many great digital imaging/photo books coming out, we can hardly keep up reading them! Check Carol Cotton's Digital Camera How-To Guides 2008 recommendations (II). -- Posted Wednesday, August 6, 2008 by chb

2008 Photo Book Reviews
No matter how good you are at digital photography, there's always something new to learn. And photo books are a great way of inexpensively acquiring new skills and learn new tricks. Check Carol Cotton's Digital Camera How-To Guides 2008 recommendations. -- Posted Thursday, July 31, 2008 by chb

2008 J.D. Power digital camera ratings
J.D. Power and Associates released its 2008 Digital Camera Usage and Satisfaction Study that shows the Canon EOS Digital SLR, Canon PowerShot G, Fujifilm Finepix S, Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ, Nikon D and Sony Cyber-shot T series ranking highest in customer satisfaction in their respective segments. See J.D. Power ratings for DSLRs, Point & Shoot, Premium Point & Shoot, and Ultra Slims. -- Posted Thursday, July 31, 2008 by chb

The thinnest camera with 4X wide-angle zoom
If you're not spoiled enough to automatically pass on a new camera with a mere 8-megapixel resolution, the Exilim Z150 from Casio has a lot to offer. It is an elegant little shooter that comes in five colors (silver, black, red, pink and green), has a very useful 4X wide angle zoom, a large and terrific 3-inch LCD display, CCD-shift anti-shake, and it comes with a list price of just US$199 -- a total bargain. Read description and specs of the Casio Exilim Z150 with 3-inch display and 4X wide zoom. -- Posted Monday, July 28, 2008 by chb

Impressive waterproof Pentax Optio W60
There are times when you don't want to have to worry about getting your camera wet or dirty. Pentax designed the 10-megapixel Optio W60 with that in mind. It's a tough but elegant camera with a fully internal 5X zoom that starts out wide and still gets you closer than 3X zoom models. The 2.5-inch display is sharp and very readable from all directions. The camera can record 1280 x 720 pixel movies. Best of all, the US$329 Optio W60 can handle up to 13 feet of water and you can use it even in freezing temperatures down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. [Read review and specs of the waterproof and dustproof Pentax Optio W60] -- Posted Tuesday, July 22, 2008 by chb

Pentax Optio V20: big screen, big zoom
The Pentax Optio V20 is an update to the company's V10 model. The V20 has the same large 3-inch wide-angle LCD display, but includes a longer 5X optical zoom. What you get here is a light and handy 8-megapixel camera with fun features like face, blink and smile recognition and a number of other tricks, all made more useful by the big and very sharp display and the long zoom. List price is US$279. [Read review and specs of the Pentax Optio V20] -- Posted Tuesday, July 22, 2008 by chb

Eye-Fi expands wireless SD card offerings
Last year, introduced SD cards with wireless communications capabilities. Just stick the card into the camera and it will upload pictures to your computer or a photosharing site of your choice. We've been using the Eye-Fi card ever since it came out. Now Eye-Fi split its lineup into three: The US$129 Eye-Fi Explore card locates nearby WiFi networks and adds location tags to pictures using Skyhook's global WiFi Positioning System. The original US$99 Eye-Fi Share includes unlimited, secure Web-sharing service that allows users to automatically upload photos directly to their preferred photo sharing, social networking or blogging site. The new US$79 Eye-Fi Home is limited to uploading photos to your computer through your own home WiFi network. All cards include 2GB storage and are PC and Mac compatible. -- Posted Monday, May 12, 2008 by chb

Epson Stylus Photo RX680 Multifunction Printer
Contributing editor David MacNeill says: My days of complaining about the limitations of multifunction printers are over. Used to be you had to give up so much in one or more of the functions that it just wasn't worth the space and money savings to have one. But that was then and this is now. I have consistently preferred Epson printers over the years and the RX680 (List $199, $129 discounted) gives me no reason to change that preference. I have been living with this unit for over a month and can report that it is an excellent machine, worthy of your hard earned cash. It is not perfect, but it is the best multifunction printer I've ever reviewed.
[See review of the Epson Stylus Photo RX680 Multifunction Printer] -- Posted Wednesday, April 30, 2008 by chb