I have finally posted my review of the Minolta DiMAGE Xi. While it may not be the best ultra-compact 3 Megapixel camera, it's still up there. It's certainly one of the smallest!

This review incorporates a new test shot, designed to show things like distortion and vignetting. I am also hoping to start doing some sort of color testing, but right now my lighting isn't consistent enough.
Added 1:30pm: Distortion test added to Olympus C-50Z review.

That's where (I hope) you come in. I would like a fairly inexpensive lighting setup where I can take my product shots and test shots. It doesn't need to be a big setup, since my subjects will always be fairly small. If there any lighting experts out there, I'd love to hear your suggestions!

I have finally posted my Olympus C-50 Zoom review... sorry for all the waiting on this one. This is a pretty nice 5 Megapixel camera in a small, metal body. I may add some additional items to this review in a few days.
Updated 1/26/03 @ 9pm: Info added about underwater case.

I also started the gallery for the Minolta DiMAGE Xi. These are photos from the production model. You can read a preview of the Xi right now. The final review will be posted later this week.

Added 2pm: I have corrected a major screwup in the Olympus C-5050Z review. The wrong macro photo was included! I apologize for this really dumb mistake.

Fujifilm today introduced their 4th generation Super CCD sensor. The new Super CCD comes in two flavors: The Super CCD HR (high resolution), and the more intriguing Super CCD SR (sensitivity and range).

The new Super CCD HR sensor incorporates 6.35 million effective pixels into a 1/1.7" chip. Cameras equipped with this imaging device can produce up to 12.3 million recording pixels. There will be a 1/2.7" version that produces about 3 million effected pixels, as well.

The Super CCD SR "features a new configuration that produces approximately four times wider dynamic range than third-generation Super CCD." Fuji has used their decades of photographic experience to create a sensor which closely rivals film. Here's how it works:

(chart corrected 10am)

"Silver halide film is coated with crystals of various shapes- highly sensitive grains with large surface areas that respond to small amounts of light, and low sensitivity grains with small surface area that responds to large amounts of light."

The Super CCD SR replicates this concept by incorporating both "large, high-sensitivity S-pixels and smaller R-pixels for expanded dynamic range. By combining data from both sensor elements according to the composition of the scene, the Super CCD SR is able to deliver both high sensitivity and expanded dynamic range." The sensor "produces a smooth and wide tonal range without losing detail in dark areas or washing out in bright areas."

The new sensor is 1/1.7" in size, incorporating 6.2 million effective pixels (3.1 million S-pixels and 3.1 million R-pixels).

Fuji didn't announce any cameras using these two new sensors, but they dropped some hints in the press release:

This article in PC World describes why I always warn people to check out a company before you buy from them. If you've ever had a bad experience buying a camera online, this is well worth a look.

Added 6pm: Samsung introduced an interesting new product: a combination MiniDV camcorder and 4 Megapixel digital still camera. You can read more about it over on my dvspot site. Once there, scroll down a bit to the SCD5000 listing.

Added 1pm: Sony has launched their new Memory Stick Pro flash memory, which it co-developed with SanDisk. You may have read rumors about this last month. Here are the important points:

• Capacities of 256MB, 512MB, and 1GB will ship in April for $190, $440, and $880 (ouch) respectively
• Transfer rates of up to 160 Mbit/sec (20MB/sec); minimum write speed of 15 Mbit/sec with "optimized Memory Stick PRO format-compatible devices."
• Real-time recording of data
• Access Control Function protects data on the Stick. MagicGate is also there, for protecting copyrighted materials
• New products that support Memory Stick Pro will ship this Spring. Right now, only the Cyber-shot DSC-F717 and a handful of camcorders and photo printers support it.
• All other Sony digicams and camcorders will not support this new format. However, a new Memory Stick with Memory Select Function will allow for a 256MB stick that they can use. Here's how it works: memory is partitioned in 128MB blocks. When you want to access the other block, you take out the card, and flip a switch. That's how you get the 256MB capacity. This new card also ships in April, for about $160. Sony is working on larger capacities.

Olympus has announced a new line of digital cameras, using the famous Stylus name from their 35mm cameras. The Stylus 300 and 400 are ultra-compact, stylish metal cameras with 3 and 4 Megapixel CCDs. I had the chance to use both the other day at Macworld and was impressed with their design and ease-of-use. Here's more:

Stylus 300

• 3.2 effective Megapixel CCD
• 3X optical zoom, equivalent to 35 - 105 mm; maximum aperture is F3.1 - F5.2
• All-metal, all-weather body can be used in any conditions. Note that all-weather does not mean waterproof.
• 5 different scene modes, accessed with virtual mode wheel
• Movie mode with sound, clips up to 40 seconds
• 1.5" LCD display
• Uses xD Picture cards (16MB card included)
• Includes RM-2 remote control (nice)
• Uses proprietary Li-ion battery, also used on C-50 Zoom.
• Dimensions: 3.8 x 2.2 x 1.3 inches (WxHxD), weighs 165 g
• Ships in February -- estimated street price of $399

Stylus 400 - same as above, except:

• 4.0 effective Megapixel CCD
• Gold plate on the front (behind the logo) instead of silver
• Ships in April for estimated $499 street price

Casio today introduced a new member to their Exilim line of ultra-thin digital cameras. Unlike the other Exilims, the EX-Z3 actually has a zoom lens. It also seems to share the same lens as the Pentax Optio S that I covered yesterday. Here are some more details:

• 3.2 effective Megapixel CCD
• 3X optical zoom, equivalent to 35 - 105 mm; maximum aperture is F2.6 - F4.8
• Whopping 2" LCD display
• 10MB of on-board memory, plus an SD/MMC card slot
• Extremely robust performance
• 21 Best Shot scenes, for taking great pictures in specific situations
• Triple self-timer takes three shots in a row with self-timer
• Manual controls include white balance, focus, and aperture
• Tiny body: 3.4 x 2. x 0.9 inches (WxHxD) and weighs just 125 g
• Ships in April for $450

Minolta has announced a new addition to their DiMAGE family of digital cameras. The DiMAGE F300 is a 5 Megapixel version of their popular (and very nice) DiMAGE F100 (see our review). Here are the specs:

• 5.0 effective Megapixel CCD
• 3X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 38 - 114 mm; maximum aperture is F2.8 - F4.7
• Dual auto-focus systems: Area AF + subject tracking AF (for moving subjects)
• Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection automatically selects settings in certain situations (portrait, sports action, landscape, sunset, night portrait)
• Noise reduction for exposures 1 sec or longer
• Full manual control of shutter speed, aperture, white balance, and focus
• Image on LCD is amplified in low light situations (very handy!)
• New XR (extended recording) movie mode allows for a 20 minute movie at 160 x 120, or a 3 minute movie at 320 x 240. A night mode is also available, for better movies in low light.
• Burst modes: 1.2 frames/sec at highest resolution, or 11 frames in one sec at 1280 x 960
• Can record audio with pictures, or just audio by itself
• Uses SD/MMC memory cards
• Small aluminum and stainless steel body, weighs 185 g
• Ships next month with 32MB SD card, NiMH batteries + charger, and sports case. Pricing is not announced.

If you're into digital camcorders, check out my dvspot site for new products from just about everyone in the industry!

Added 3:30pm: Panasonic has announced two new Lumix cameras at CES. You may have read about these elsewhere a few months ago... this is the U.S. announcement.

Lumix DMC-FZ1

• 2.0 effective Megapixel CCD
• F2.8, 12X optical zoom lens (Leica DC-VARIO ELMARIT), with optical image stabilization. By the way, F2.8 is the maximum aperture for the entire zoom range! This lens is equivalent to 35 - 420 mm.
• 4 frames/sec burst mode - a "high-performance, quick-response camera"
• Manual controls include focus, AE bracketing, and white balance. Does not seem to have manual shutter speed or aperture controls.
• 1.5" LCD and electronic viewfinder
• Uses Secure Digital / MultiMedia cards
• Cradle-type battery recharging system (uses proprietary Li-ion battery)
• Includes lens hood
• Ships in February for $449
• See photo gallery here

Lumix DMC-F1

• 3.2 Megapixel CCD
• F2.8, 3X optical zoom Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens
• Movie mode w/sound recording
• Uses SD/MMC cards as well
• Ships in February for $399

I'll try to dig up more information soon.

Added 11am: Pentax today introduced the tiny new Optio S, a camera which fits in a box of Altoids (really, they have a picture of it). I am looking forward to trying this one! Here are the specs:

• 3.2 effective Megapixel CCD
• 3X optical zoom, equivalent to 35 - 105 mm; maximum aperture is F2.6 - F4.8
• Incredibly small aluminum-alloy body: 3.3 x 2.0 x 0.8 inches (LxWxD), weights just 98 g
• 1.6" LCD display
• 11MB of built-in memory, plus SD/MMC card slot
• Super macro mode with minimum focus distance of 6 cm
• Movie mode w/sound
• Ships at the end of March. Pricing not available.

A Reuters story says that Minolta and Konica have announced plans to merge. The new company will have a combined value of about $3.86 billion, though about 10% of workers will lose their jobs. The new company will be known as Konica Minolta Holdings Inc.

The Consumer Electronics Association says that digital camera sales will total more than 11 million units in 2003, up 26 percent from 2002. Can't complain about that!

Rumor has it that the Canon EOS-D60 may be discontinued (read more here). If I get an official confirmation of this, I'll pass it on. Wonderful timing, if true -- I just bought one.

I'm back from Macworld (finally got a media pass and saw the keynote in person!) and have some news about Apple's new iPhoto 2 software. iPhoto 2 will be shipping on January 25th, and will be a free download. You can also purchase it, along with the three other iLife products (iDVD, iMovie, and iTunes), for $49.95. New features include:

• One-click enhance button (kind of like auto levels in Photoshop) improves your photos with, well, one click.
• Retouch brush allows you to fix blemishes and scratches on your photos. This was really impressive!
• Built-in CD/DVD archiving
• Integration with iTunes for quickly adding MP3s to slide shows
• More e-mail clients added for easy photo e-mailing

I plan on updating my iPhoto review in the near future.

Well, my vacation (such as it was) is over, and now it's back to work. This week we have both the Macworld and Consumer Electronics (CES) shows, and I'll be at the former. There will be some new cameras announced this week, and no, I won't tell you what they are. You'll just have to wait a few days for the announcements!

Camera resellers and buyers should be on the lookout for certain D100 and Coolpix 2500 cameras that were stolen from the Nikon Germany warehouse on December 21st. 192 D100s and 100 CP2500's were taken, and a €36,000 reward is offered for information leading to their return. You can find out more information (albeit in German) and a list of the serial numbers of the stolen cameras in this document. Thanks to the folks at digitalkamera.de for letting us know.

I wanted to wish everyone a happy, safe, and successful 2003! This past year was the best one in the five year history of this site. My sincere thanks to the nearly 8.5 million visitors we had in 2002.

For those who like statistics, we had over 17 million pages views (not bad considering that we don't have that many pages here) and transferred over 7 terabytes of data in 2002. In December alone, those numbers were 2.1 million page views and 1.2 terabytes. Not looking forward to the web hosting bill!

Thanks again,
Jeff