I'm taking the week off to catch up on magazine work (you can see how well that is going). But I can offer you a few more Minolta DiMAGE 7i sample photos, including three taken in UHS (ultra high speed) mode.

I have posted an updated review of Apple's iPhoto software. The review incorporates the many changes made in version 1.1.1.

Coming early next week: our review of the Olympus D-550Z. You can preview the photo gallery today.

Nikon has announced the pricing for their newest digital cameras:

Coolpix 2000 - $249
Coolpix 4500 - $699
Coolpix 5700 - $1199 (less than I was expecting)
D100 (digital SLR) - $2500 (ships this Friday!)

I will be reviewing all three of these cameras, probably later in July.

Casio yesterday introduced two new compact digital cameras, with some pretty interesting features.

QV-R4

• 4.0 (effective) MPixel CCD
• 3X optical zoom Pentax lens, equivalent to 37.5 - 112.5 mm
• Minimal shutter lag time - 0.01 sec
• 11MB of on-board memory, plus Secure Digital (SD) memory card slot
• Best Shot Mode - pick a scene (such as sunset), camera chooses best settings. Two new scenes:
  • Coupling Shot - This feature makes it possible for two people to be included in the
    same image, even when they are the only two around. Person A records Person B
    on one side of the image. A transparent view of the first image remains on the monitor screen so Person B can use it to compose the other side and record Person A. Only the second image is stored in camera memory, showing both Person A and Person B
  • Pre-Shot – With this feature you can compose the background you want and record it. A transparent view of the background image remains on the monitor screen so you
    can ask someone to record you against the background, using the monitor screen image as a guide. Only the second image is stored in camera memory, showing you against the background you want.
• Triple self-timer - will take three shots in a row
• Movie mode (no sound recorded, as far as I can tell)
• 1.6" LCD display
• 3.5 x 2.3 x 1.2 inches, weighs 198 g
• Ships in July for $499

QV-R3 - same as above, except:

• 3.0 effective Megapixel CCD
• Zoom lens equivalent to 37 - 111 mm
• Priced at $399

I have posted my review of the Olympus C-720 Ultra Zoom a few days early. This is a camera with an 8X optical zoom lens that is pretty good, but could be a lot better in many areas. I would love to see some more competition in the big zoom, mid-priced arena... it would lead to better cameras.

The clouds parted briefly on Sunday and I was able to get my Minolta DiMAGE 7i photo gallery started. If you're interested in this (much improved) 5 Megapixel camera, have a look.

Toshiba has introduced the PDR-T20, a new 2 Megapixel camera with a touchscreen LCD. It will be shown publicly at next week's PC Expo show (which I will not be attending). Here's more:

• 2.0 effective Megapixel CCD (1600 x 1200 photos)
• 2X optical + 3X digital zoom
• 1.5" touchscreen LCD (includes stylus)
• Scene modes: Sports, Auto, Macro, Portrait, Night, Landscape, Burst
• Uses Secure Digital (SD) memory cards - 8MB card included
• Uses proprietary Li-ion battery
• Interchangeable face plates
• Weighs 6.3 ounces (178 grams)
• Ships in July for $399

Here's my attempt at letting you know about the latest reviews on the other digicam sites out there:

With today's final review of the Sony Mavica MVC-CD250, I've completed my review updates. Next week I'll get back to new reviews with a look at the Olympus C-720 Ultra Zoom (you can preview the photo gallery now).

Since we've had a lot of reviews lately, here's what I've posted in the past two weeks:
Sony Mavica MVC-CD400
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P71
Olympus D-520 Zoom
Samsung Digimax 350SE
HP Photosmart 812 vs. Kodak DX4900

Almost done with these review updates! Today I'm posted our final review of the Sony Mavica MVC-CD400. I believe this is the only review of a production model CD400 out there. Find out if it's right for you!

I've updated the Olympus D-550 Zoom photo gallery as well.

Continuing with our review updates, today I offer you our final review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P71. I've got two more Sony cameras to get through this week, the CD400 and CD250.

I've updated two photo galleries today, filled with shots from this weekends Escape from Alcatraz triathlon. Once again I was amazed at the number of digital cameras I saw people carrying! Equally amazing was the sheer athleticism of the race participants. The galleries:
Olympus C-720 Ultra Zoom
Sony Mavica MVC-CD400

I've decided not to do a fireworks photo contest this year, due to the rampant cheating that went on last year (not to mention my lower budget). Instead, I'll just put up a gallery where you can showcase your best photos. Heck, I may even put up a few of my own, too.

Minolta has introduced the new Minolta DiMAGE 7 Upgrade Kit. Significant improvements include increased autofocus speed, faster continuous drive rate, Direct Manual Focus (DMF) mode, and a real-time histogram for enhanced picture-taking. The upgrade also provides a new and enhanced image processing capability and editing tools for both Macintosh and PC computer users with the new DiMAGE Viewer. Here's more:

• Autofocus is 50% faster, continuous shooting moves up from 1.1 to 1.5 frames/sec, and a new 1280 x 960 burst mode captures at 5 frames/sec.

• Direct Manual Focus lets you fine tune the focus even after the AF has been done

• Three new display settings assist in proper exposure evaluation and composition: real-time histogram, grid, and scale.

• Three new movie modes: Night movie (monochrome), time-lapse, and UHS (which strings a bunch of stills into one 640 x 480 movie).

• New manual flash control. Flash output can be set in three levels: full power, 1/4 power, and 1/16 power.

• Enlarged playback can be used in Quick View as well as the playback mode. Images can be enlarged between 2x to a maximum of 4x in 0.4x increments. And in the Quick View and playback modes, it is possible to scroll between histogram displays.

• DiMAGE Viewer enhanced for better photo and movie editing

• Upgrade kit will be available in late summer for $79.95. If you want just the software, that's $49.95.

[Ed. note: I've got to say that it's pretty sad that you have to pay for a firmware upgrade that you download and install yourself! Thanks to Steve's Digicams for this news item.]

Fuji has announced the price of their S2 Pro digital SLR. The list price will be $2699, with an expected street price of $2399. The camera ships this summer.

In other Fuji news, the FinePix S602 Zoom is now available in stores nationwide for $799. You can read our take on the S602 here.

I've posted the final review of the Olympus D-520 Zoom today. If you've been waiting for me to finish this, your wait is over!

As promised, here are those Olympus C-720 Ultra Zoom pictures from this morning's "slip the cargo cranes under the Bay Bridge" event here in San Francisco.

Today I've posted my review of the Samsung Digimax 350SE. This is the first review I've done of a Samsung camera, and I wasn't impressed with this one. While it could have been a good choice, the 350SE's slow operation makes it a poor choice.

I've posted sample photos from three Olympus cameras:
C-720 Ultra Zoom
D-520 Zoom
D-550 Zoom

Nikon has announced that the D100 Digital SLR will be shipping on June 28th. In case you're wondering, I will be reviewing one.

Speaking of upcoming reviews -- many people have asked if and when I will be updating all those reviews of Sony cameras that I did a few months ago. The answer is "I'm trying" -- Sony is being very unresponsive about sending cameras out, despite my repeated requests. Update: It looks like my complaints have been heard -- I'll have updated reviews soon. Stay tuned.

Wouldn't you know it: one day after sending back my Photosmart 812, HP updates its firmware and adds new features. These include:

1. The voltage has been lowered at which the camera will still charge batteries. i.e., lower voltage batteries can now be charged (2200mV minimum) whereas before the batteries had to be at least 2400mV before they could be charged.
2. Added Direct Print support for DeskJet 3820 printer.
3. Modified the Video write system to make us compliant with standard .MPG specs.
4. Fixed noise filter bug.
5. Added sharpening.
6. Decreased contrast on flash pictures.
7. Fixed macro focus problem.

Since the camera is already gone, I won't be able to update the review, unfortunately.

Two more camera introductions to talk about today, from Canon and Toshiba.

Canon PowerShot A200

• 2.0 Megapixel CCD
• 4X digital zoom (no optical zoom)
• User can choose from several ISO sensitivities
• Canon claims 0.08 sec shutter lag
• Continuous shooting at 2 frames/sec
• Movie mode (no sound)
• 1.6" LCD display
• Optional underwater case
• Ships this July for $299

Toshiba PDR-3300 (replaces PDR-M71)

• 3.2 effective Megapixel CCD (2048 x 1536 photos)
• 2.8X optical + 2.2X digital zoom
• Full manual controls
• Uses Secure Digital (SD) memory cards; 8MB card included
• Movie mode (no sound)
• 1.6" LCD display
• Now available for $349

As it turns out, I missed some earlier Toshiba camera introductions. I will get those cameras (PDR-T10, PDR-3310) added to our database soon. Plus all these other new cameras introduced in the past week.

After many hours of writing, I have posted my latest comparative review. This one, entitled Two Cheap Four Megapixel Cameras puts the HP Photosmart 812 up against the Kodak EasyShare DX4900. These are low-cost, fairly basic 4MP cameras that can use docking cradles for easy photo transferring and battery charging.

The problem with this review is that it was hard to pick a winner between two very average cameras. Hopefully this will still help out some people who are interested in these cameras.

Late update: I have posted the printer friendly version and added much improved LCD screen shots from the DX4900. The LCD shots from the Photosmart are as good as they'll get.

Pentax has introduced two updates to their popular Optio cameras. The new Optio 330RS and 430RS are enhanced versions of two already very good "micro cameras". I don't have any photos of these cameras yet, but here at the specs:

Optio 430RS

• Refined, stainless steel body weighs just 200 grams
• 4.0 effective Mpixel CCD
• 3X optical zoom lens
• "Always ready to shoot" (sounds like on the Photosmart 812 - you can take a picture no matter what mode the camera is in)
• New 3D stereoscopic mode. Creates picture that look 3D when used with special viewer.
• Digital filters for monochrome, sepia, and various colors
• Movie mode, without sound. Clips up to 30 seconds.
• Interval (time-lapse) and continuous shooting modes
• Camera can create a movie from shots taken in interval mode
• Histogram shown in both record and playback modes
• Selectable ISO of 100 and 200
• In-camera image cropping and resizing
• 11MB of built-in memory, plus a CompactFlash slot
• Uses proprietary Li-ion battery
• Optional waterproof case lets you go up to 40 m (132 ft) underwater. This case also works with the older Optio 330 and 430 models.
• Ships in July. Price not available.

Optio 330RS - same as above with these changes:

• 3.2 effective Mpixel CCD
• ISO settings of 125 and 250

Mac OS X 10.1.5 is out, offering new support for newer Canon digital cameras and Nikon FireWire cameras. Use the Software Update feature to get it.