photographyetc

Imaging Resource has an exclusive interview with MSFT on their upcoming RAW support: http://www.imaging-resource.com/NEWS/1118162160.html

An interesting story by Eamon Hickey on how photographer Alex Majoli gets the job done using mid-sized prosumers instead of big DSLRs:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-6468-7844

The dpreview review is here (or rather there): http://www.dpreview.com/news/0506/05060105nikond2xreview.asp

It receives perhaps the highest level of a compliment from Phil. But you have to read the Conclusion to find out what it is. A hint: It's the last sentence in the Conclusion :-)

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/raw-flaw.shtml
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/raw-flaw.shtml#petition

The camera review matrix that is :-)

Photoxels.com has a handy one-page review matrix of currently active digital camera models and major review sites (dpreview, imaging-resource, steve's, dcresource, megapixel, dcviews, luminous, letsgodigital, photographyblog, digitalcamerainfo, etc). Actual review dates are provided for 2005 models along with active HTML links to the actual review. Very handy page to bookmark.

And the url is: http://www.photoxels.com/reviews-matrix.html

It didn't take HP took long to slash prices on 4x6 prints at Snapfish. 4x6 prints are now just 12c.
This will put pressure on the other online services to cut prices, which in turn will put pressure on the brick-n-mortar labs and chain-stores to cut prices as well.

I saw this url mentioned in one of the dpreview discussions about the new Olympus new F2 lenses. This may be helpful: http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html. Also available in Windows and Palm versions! Pre-configured for hundreds of camera models. Can also be custom-calculated by clicking on the "Circle of Confusion" link.

While browsing, I found sales numbers from the last 11 days of 2004 a superstore chain in Japan at Photoethnography.com.

The numbers were compiled by biccamera for the last 11 days of 2004 in Japan and were published by Nippon-Camera: http://www.photoethnography.com/blog/archives/2005/02/news_recent_top_2.html

Granted it was only 11 days at one large chain, but the DSLR numbers look quite interesting, with the Minolta 7D at #1, and the Pentax *istDS twice in the Top 5. The Nikon D70 was certainly not a surprise, and neither was the 20D. The surprise was not seeing the original D-Rebel. Granted it was towards the end of its "hotness" as a product after being "exposed" by the Nikon D70. But to Canon's defense, if it was available in both silver and black in similar quantities as well as body-only and kit-lens combinations, that's four different items, so that may [partially] explain why it is not in the top 5.

In the general digital camera market there are no surprises, as Japan-market-friendly models are in the Top 5. For example the Pentax Optio S50 combines the sleekness of the sliding lens technology while using AA batteries. The #1 was one of the Elphs (I don't remember which one model IXY 50 is, since Elph, IXUS and IXY use different generational numbers for the same model). Also in there the Minolta X50, Sony T3, and Panasonic FX-7 - the best selling digital camera in Japan for Q4 2004.

In the film SLR segment, Nikon F6 was leading the way with two Canons, one Pentax and one Minolta closing the Top 5. The manufacturer names were not surprising, but seeing a camera as expensive as the F6 at #1 in the face of DSLRs galore was quite something to behold.

Mamiya ruled the top 3 spots in the Medium format with Contax and Bronica rounding the top 5.

Jeff has posted an updated digital camera buying guide:
http://www.dcresource.com/buyersguide/index.shtml

There's about 20 cameras included in his list.

Oh and he just posted a review of the Casio EX-Z750.