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

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Voices: The Alex Majoli story
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

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Nikon D2X: The dpreview review
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 :-)

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Counter

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Petition to make RAW files OPEN and universal!
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/raw-flaw.shtml
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/raw-flaw.shtml#petition

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The Matrix Revisited
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

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Online prints price cuts! 12c at Snapfish
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.

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DOF Calculator
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.

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Numbers: The last 11 days of 2004 in Japan
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.

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dcresource updates their buyer's guide
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.

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First Leica Digital Modul-R test report (sort of)
Posted on Leica Fotografie International is the first Leica Digital Modul-R. Sort of - since the site has Leica affiliation.

http://www.lfi-online.com/shop/sh_index.php

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Voices: Sunday Morning Photographer by Mike Johnston
Posted every 1st Sunday of every month, Mike Johnston's "Sunday Morning Photographer" online column covers a variety of topics from the world of photography. Archives can be found here: http://www.photo.net/mjohnston/index.html

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Impact Review: Samsung V700
This is the first review I have seen of the next generation of Samsung digital cameras. As some of you may recall, the previous generations of Samsung digicams got neutral to negative reviews. Sometimes they even got negative comments from reviewers who like to "sugar coat" things. As Samsung aspires to do great things in the world of digital cameras, the quality of this new generation is crucial. Thus earning the designation of "Impact Review".

So the first review [that I have seen] published is for the Samsung V700, a compact camera apparently using the critically acclaimed 7mp 1/1.8" Sony CCD. The five page review is right here: http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=1325. The conclusion in this review is actually on page 2, not the last page.

I won't spoil the review or the conclusion, but I will say one thing: The closer co-operation between Sony and Samsung of recent months is surely helping Samsung.

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Interview Segment: Engadget.com interviews Nikon
Engadget interviews a "Nikon person" - the "head of DSLR systems".
Read all about it here: http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000960042753/

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Numbers: Kodak is #1 but with a big asterisk
Kodak shipped/sold the most digital cameras in Q1 of 2005 in the USA market.

That is great news for Kodak who is trying to make a comeback and recover from the "downfall" of the film era.
Kodak has managed to push away Fuji and Olympus and become the favorite entry-level low-price P&S brand.
Perhaps the greed that led to the creation of the xD memory card is coming back to haunt Fuji and Olympus.

However, there is a big asterisk next to that #1 spot.

Why?

Because the average Kodak camera and especially the best selling Kodak digital cameras are low priced especially when compared to #2 and #3 Canon and Sony. If for every $100 Kodak CX7300, Canon sells a $1000 350D/RebelXT and Sony sells a $400 P200, well you can see why there should be an asterisk. Same thing can be said for HP who doesn't even have a camera over $300 (apart from the "old" HP 945).

Q1 2005 numbers
===============
1. Kodak 900,000 [up 41% from Q1 2004] 20.4% vs 18.1%
2. Canon 850,000 [up 72% from Q1 2004] 19.3% vs 14.0%
3. Sony 800,000 [?] 18%
4. Olympus 480,000 [] 10.9% vs 12.7%
5. HP 7.5%
6. Fuji 6.8%
7. Nikon 5.7%

Annual results USA 2004
=======================
1. Kodak 4.88 million 21.9% vs 17.9% in 2003
2. Sony 4.33 million 19.4% vs 21.7%

Total in 2004: 22.3 million vs 16.4 in 2003. 2005 estimate: 27.3 million

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050509/digital_cameras.html?.v=3


My predictions for 2005
=======================
* The new set of P&S Nikon Coolpixs seems to be priced competitively and is getting positive response. That along with the success of the three "versions" of the Nikon D70 should push Nikon higher. Even their "bijou" camera which is usually a "failure" [eg SQ, 3700] looks like a success story this time around (The S1 and S2)

* Canon can do nothing wrong it seems. The signs were there early last year of Canon domination and it sure is happening!

* Olympus is struggling across the board. Their traditional markets (entry level P&S and mid-range cameras) are struggling. Part of it may be xD, part of it maybe the change in buyer patterns - partly because of all the long zooms and high-end LiIon ultra-compacts. Once a leader in long zooms Olympus is now left behind with no new models and no image stabilization. The Stylus brand has not translated very well to digital. One "bright" spot may be the colorful Stylus Verve line.

* Fuji is also struggling but if they can get the F10 sensor/engine into other models, watch out!

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Digital Camera News website of the week
Digital Camera Tracker features the latest scoop on digital cameras.
http://www.digitalcameratracker.com/

They even have a section called "The Scoop": http://www.digitalcameratracker.com/archives/the-scoop.html

Comprehensive archives of all their posts can be found here: http://www.digitalcameratracker.com/library.html

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Digital camera scoop: Nikon Coolpix S2 coming soon
dpreview forums user Walter Freiberg posted a link to an advertisement he noticed in Switzerland showing the "Nikon Coolpix S2". It looks like this is some sort of a "waterproof" or "weatherproof" version of the S1. It is advertised at a price 16% higher than that of the trendy-looking S1.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1007&message=13432711
http://homepage.hispeed.ch/philres/dx/cps2.htm

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Kyocera: are you In or Out?
Kyocera and Contax have told us they are going out of the digital camera business.
Yashica is one of their brands, that was allegedly absorbed by the Kyocera brand digital-camera-wise a few years ago.
Yet Yashica is announcing a brand new digital camera co-branded with Kyocera and having a "Kyocera lens".
It is a "standard" 5mp 3x optical camera using AA batteries.

So Kyocera/Contax/Yashica, are you IN or OUT of the digital camera business?



The picture is from the site below:
http://letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_3208.html

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Digital Camera Scoop: new from Pentax
dpreview forums user "danielmiller" posted a link to specs of two brand new Pentax digital cameras, the S5z (oh why can't they come up with longer/easier product names), which is an updated to the S5i with a trendy 2.5" LCD, and the S55 which is an update to S50 with (you guessed it) a trendy 2.5" LCD.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1000&message=13433684
http://letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_3217.html
http://letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_3218.html

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The dpreview effect
It is just a few hours after the Fuji F10 review appeared on dpreview, and since then the Fuji F10 has already jumped into the Amazon Top 75 best selling cameras. In just a few hours! This is the "dpreview effect".

Why did more people start buying it? I won't spoil the review results [you have to read it yourselves]. But obviously there is something very unique about that camera that was verified by the detailed/technical yet concise dpreview review!

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