I've updated two photo galleries today, filled with lovely pictures and my occasionally witty banter. These two cameras will face off in a head-to-head review next week.
HP Photosmart 812
Kodak DX4900

I've posted a review of the Canon ZR50 MC digital camcorder over on my dvspot site.

Fuji today introduced the new FinePix F401, a small metal camera that uses their SuperCCD sensor. Here's the details:

Fuji FinePix F401

• 2.1 effective Megapixel SuperCCD III sensor
• Images can be as large as 2304 x 1728
• 3X optical + 3.6X digital zoom
• ISO sensitivities as high as 1600 (at 1MP)
• Captures over 13 minutes of AVI digital video with sound on an (optional) 128MB Smartmedia card (320 x 240 resolution) at 10 frames per second
• Can record 30 second voice notes with photos
• Continuous, full-resolution shooting at three frames/sec (up to four frames), or a special last-four-frame-only continuous shooting mode
• Can also be used as a PC camera for videoconferencing (Windows only)
• Optional docking station ($79) for easy photo transfer and battery charging - shown above
• Small, metallic body: 3.3 x 2.7 x 1.1 inches, weighs 184 grams
• Ships in August for $499

Yesterday I gave you the scoop on five new digital cameras (scroll down for that). If you want more information, check out the previews on the other digicam sites below. I'm going to hold off until production models are available before I review these (not that I have any pre-production models here).

Here's the big announcement I have been hyping for the last day. While I knew some of these cameras existed, I had no idea they were actually being introduced until about 24 hours ago (thank you again, Nikon). Anyhow, people looking at higher end digital cameras are now going to have a much more difficult decision. Let's get right to it.

Nikon Coolpix 5700 (stunning resemblance to Fuji S602, no?)

• 5.0 effective Megapixel CCD (2560 x 1920 photos)
• A whopping 8X optical zoom lens (F2.8 - F4.2), equivalent to 35 - 280 mm
• Lens extends to full telephoto in < 2 secs
• Lens has no image stabilization
• Lens uses Nikon’s exclusive Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass for superior image quality and reduced chromatic aberrations
• 70-millisecond shutter release lag time
• Shutter speed range of 8 - 1/4000 sec
• Uses an electronic viewfinder (EVF) rather than optical viewfinder. It's like a little LCD. Covers 97% of the frame
• Same flip out, rotating main LCD (1.5") as the Coolpix 5000
• Backlit LCD info display on top of camera
• Still no AF-assist lamp :-(
• Hot shoe for external flash (power zoom head not supported)
• Multiple Continuous Shooting modes that can take up to three consecutive full-sized pictures at three frames per second, or at 1.5 frames per second
• Macro mode - as close to 3 cm (0.8") from subject
• AE and white balance bracketing
• RAW and TIFF modes, in addition to JPEG (of course)
• Movies up to 60 seconds, 320 x 240, 15 fps, with sound. Optical zoom disabled during filming.
• CompactFlash Type II slot - Microdrives (512MB & 1GB) supported
• Uses EN-EL1 proprietary Li-ion battery. Nikon estimates 90 minutes of usage per charge.
• Compatible with Nikon wide-angle (WC-E80) and telephoto (TC-E15ED) lenses. Requires step-down ring (UR-E8)
• Ships in July. Price not available. Includes 32MB CF card.

Nikon Coolpix 4500 (great to see this body style still going)

• 4.0 effective Megapixel CCD (2272 x 1704 photos)
• 4X optical zoom lens (F2.6 - F5.1), equivalent to 38 - 155 mm
• Famous Coolpix swiveling lens
• Smaller body than predecessors (5.1 x 2.9 x 2.0 inches, weighs 360 grams)
• 16 "scenes" for easy shooting in many situations, including panoramas
• Pop-up flash
• 1.5" LCD
• Macro mode - as close to 2 cm (0.8") from subject
• Movie mode - up to 35 seconds of video, with sound. Optical zoom disabled during filming.
• Voice memo function- up to 20 secs of audio per photo
• CompactFlash Type II slot - Microdrive supported
• Supports external flashes with optional SK-E900 flash bracket
• Also uses EN-EL1 Li-ion battery, with 100 minutes of usage per charge.
• Ships in July, no pricing available. Includes 32MB CF card.

Nikon Coolpix 2000

• 2.0 effective Megapixel CCD (1632 x 1224 photos)
• 3X optical zoom lens (F2.8 - F4.9), equivalent to 38 - 114 mm
• 5 "scenes" (see desc. above)
• Macro mode - as close to 4 cm (1.6") from subject
• Up to 20 seconds of silent video
• 1.5" LCD display (camera has no optical viewfinder)
• CompactFlash Type I slot
• Lacks video out
• 4.3 x 2.7 x 1.5 inches in size; weighs 190 grams
• Also ships in July, no price available. Includes 16MB CF card.

Nikon also introduced the Cool-Light SL-1 macro ring light, to provide Coolpix users easy macro shooting without the need for special lighting equipment. This extremely portable and easy-to-use light works with eight, high-luminance white LED bulbs to give a lightweight, full-surround illumination. Lights images from a shooting distance as close as 2cm with the Coolpix 4500 and Coolpix 900 series of cameras. Attaches directly to the Coolpix 950, 990, 995 and Coolpix 4500 digital cameras, while a standard lens adapter ring is necessary for use with the Coolpix 5000, 885, 880 and 775 digital cameras. It will be available -- guess when -- this July.

Sony announced two new digital cameras in their Cyber-shot line. One actually has been around in other countries but is now announced here in the US. (If you think Sony's product names are getting confusing, you're not the only one. The new DSC-P7 is actually a nicer camera than the DSC-P71. That doesn't make a lot of sense to me.) Anyhow, here's the info:

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P7 (shown at right)

• 3.2 (effective) Megapixel CCD
• 3X optical + 2X digital zoom
• AF illuminator for low-light focusing
• MPEG Movie HQX mode - record movies (with sound) at 320 x 240 until you fill up the Memory Stick
• Compact body, a la DSC-P1/P9
• Uses NP-FC10 InfoLithium rechargeable battery (included)
• Ships in July for $499

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P2 - same as above except:

• 2.0 effective Megapixel CCD
• Ships in July for $399

I've moved my upcoming review schedule around a bit. Since I realized that I have two, low cost 4 Megapixel cameras here (both of which use docks), I'm going to do another head-to-head review. So, watch for our HP PhotoSmart 812 vs Kodak DX4900 review on June 6th. Before that, I'll do a camcorder review or two. You can always see what's next by clicking on the Upcoming Reviews link at the top of the home page.

The DCRP got a very nice (and unexpected) plug in an article in today's Chicago Sun-Times.

Hurrah, we passed 8 million home page visitors today! Thanks for your continuing support.

I have finally converted my first look into a full review of the Fuji FinePix F601 Zoom. This is a "fine" camera for those looking for a midrange, small camera. Sorry it took so long to get this done!

I wrote a lengthy rant about the theft of content from this and other digicam sites yesterday. Just scroll down to read it. Many thanks to all the people who wrote in with thoughts and suggestions about how to handle this.

Other recent DCRP reviews include:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC5
Kodak EasyShare LS420
Canon PowerShot S200 Digital ELPH

Nobody likes having their work stolen. I've grown fairly used to it over the last four years of running this site. Usually it's somebody on eBay just "hijacking" one of my camera photos, but sometimes it's worse, such as when reviews or sample photos are placed on someone’s own site.

But once in a while, you find something so bad, so despicable in fact, that you begin to question the existence of any moral sense in certain people.

That is the case with a site in China known as PConline.com.cn, which has lifted entire reviews from myself, DP Review, Steves Digicams, and Imaging Resource. It's pretty frustrating when you see your recent Three Small 2 Megapixel Cameras completely republished in Chinese on another site. All of this was done without my permission, and is just a example of the hundreds of hours of work (by myself and my fellow editors) that these thieves have stolen.

To make matters worse, there is apparently not a lot that can be done from a legal perspective. I've fired off the usual cease & desist letter, and received no response and no action was taken.

If you have any thoughts on the matter, or suggestions as to how to handle it, I'd like to hear from you.

Thanks,
Jeff

Kodak this week introduced a new digital camera, as well as an updated version of their EasyShare dock. The dock ($79) is basically the same as the old one, except in two areas: printing and sharing. You can use the dock to print to a Kodak printer or online photofinisher of your choice. As for sharing, the camera lets you mark images for automatic printing and e-mailing. All the other EasyShare cameras already out there can use this dock.

Now, about that camera:

Kodak EasyShare CX4230 (who names these things?)

• 2.0 Megapixel CCD (1632 x 1232)
• 3X optical zoom
• "Share" button for marking photos for printing and e-mailing
• "The CX4230 is the only camera in the world that automatically rotates pictures on the camera, so pictures taken vertically appear correctly." (Never mind that Canon cameras have done this for the last year)
• 16MB on-board memory plus SD/MMC card slot
• Uses two AA batteries
• No word on pricing or availability

Today's "Circuits" section of the New York Times has an extensive set of articles relating to digital photography. Alas, no plugs for the DCRP in this one. (Free registration required to read online).

Today is my 26th (!) birthday, and guess what, I've got work to do! Seeing how friends and family have regular day jobs, I'll try to finally finish that Fuji FinePix F601 Zoom review before I go out to celebrate my old age. Thanks to those who sent in their birthday wishes!

Wow, I finished another review early. This is my review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC5. This is a camera that had a lot of promise, with nice features and a Leica lens, but its miserable photo quality prevents a recommendation.

I have added two new photo galleries to the site:

HP Photosmart 812
Samsung Digimax 350SE

Both of these galleries, along with the Fuji FinePix F601 gallery, include the new EXIF data viewer, which is detailed below.

New feature (updated): I have added a new feature to our photo galleries which will let you view EXIF data for each sample photo, all from the comfort of your web browser. EXIF data is written in the headers of every image saved by a digital camera. They don't always make sense, but for those who want all the details, this is it.

I'm looking for feedback about this new feature in a number of areas. Is this useful information to you? How could I present it better? I especially want to hear from some PHP experts who can help get this working better.

I've made a few changes since my first version, so the data should make a bit more sense (e.g. FNumber as 4.8 instead of 24/5). I have also added a glossary of EXIF headers.

I've posted my review of the Kodak EasyShare LS420, a small, fixed-focus camera from Kodak. Is this your best choice for an entry-level camera? I'm not going to tell you here, read the review!

Nikon has put a teaser up on their site about a new Coolpix3 camera, to be introduced May 29th. And that's all we know...

I've added tons of new photos to the (production model) Fuji FinePix F601 Zoom gallery. If you like flowers, sunsets, and fingerprints (don't ask), these are for you.

The next review here on the DCRP will be of the point-and-shoot Kodak LS420, coming in the middle of the week. You can preview the photo gallery now.

I'm still trying to get production models of all those cameras (from Sony and Olympus, most notably) that I previewed a few months ago. Thanks for your patience!

Another day, another review. Today I've taken a look at the Canon PowerShot S200 Digital ELPH. This is the replacement to the S110, adding a few new features. I also recently reviewed the PowerShot S330, which has a 3X optical zoom instead of the 2X zoom on the S200. Whichever Digital ELPH you pick, they're both good choices.

I have also updated two photo galleries (yes, it's cruise ship week here at the DCRP):
Fuji FinePix F601 Zoom (production model, at last!)
Kodak EasyShare LS420

Today, Olympus released two cameras that I think a lot of people will be interested in. The most exciting, in my opinion, is the C-720 Ultra Zoom, which replaces the C-700 Ultra Zoom. While the zoom has dropped from 10X to 8X, the Megapixels have gone up from 2 to 3. They also introduced the new D-550Z, a 3 Megapixel point-and-shoot camera. Here's more about each:

C-720 Ultra Zoom

• 3.0 effective Megapixel CCD (1984 x 1488 photos)
• 8X optical zoom (F2.8 - F3.4) lens, equivalent to 40 - 320 mm
• Very small: 4.2 x 3.0 x 3.0 inches (WxHxD), weighs 315 grams
• Like C-700UZ, uses electronic viewfinder
• Full manual controls; shutter speed range of 8 - 1/1000 sec
• Continuous shooting mode: 1.2 frames per second, up to 5 frames at HQ setting
• "My Mode" (also seen on D-40Z) stores your favorite settings, accessible via the mode wheel
• Movie mode records QuickTime movies. Not sure if sound is recorded
• Uses AA batteries
• Includes 16MB SmartMedia card
• Ships in June for $599 estimated street price

D-550 Zoom

• 3.0 effective Megapixel CCD (1,984 x 1,488)
• 2.8X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 36-100 (same lens as D-40Z?)
• 5 scene modes: Portrait, Landscape, Landscape+Portrait, Night Scene and Self Portrait
• "World’s First Virtual Mode Dial" - not sure exactly what that means, but didn't Casio do this like 2 years ago?
• Automatic noise reduction and automatic pixel mapping (for getting rid of bad pixels on the CCD). The C-720UZ has the latter feature, not sure about the noise reduction.
• USB AutoConnect means no drivers needed for modern Mac and Windows operating systems (same deal on C-720UZ)
• Uses 4 AA-sized batteries
• Ships in late May with 16MB SmartMedia card for $399 estimated street price

Apple today released iPhoto 1.1.1, an update to the free photo management/sharing/printing application which requires Mac OS X 10.1.2. Looks like I'll have to update my iPhoto review soon. Anyhow, the new features are:

• email your photos using Apple Mail
• adjust brightness and contrast to improve the appearance of your photo
• retain and display EXIF data (image and camera information about each photo)
• automatically create an album by dragging a folder of photos into the Photo Library list
• import directly from a Photo CD or Picture CD
• import a group of photos as separate film rolls by dragging a folder with subfolders into the photo viewing area
• set your desktop image from within iPhoto
• set your screen saver from within iPhoto

I don't think there are a whole lot of people waiting for this review, but here it is anyway: our review of the Casio GV-10. What makes this camera unique is its resistance to water, dust, and shock. What makes the GV-10 undesirable (to me at least) is the less than impressive photo quality.

I've posted some photos from the Canon PowerShot S200 Digital ELPH, which will be reviewed later this week. Besides the usual photos, I took a few during the filming of The Incredible Hulk.

It's been quiet this week, but I'm still here. I've been working on my second column for Macworld magazine for most of the week. By the way, if you haven't seen my first column, you can now read it online here.

The next review will be posted no later than Monday -- it will be of the Casio GV-10.

Kodak has started a Digital Camera Trade-In Program, where current Kodak camera owners can get up to $125 toward the purchase of a new Kodak camera. For example, a DC290 is worth $125 (see all camera values). Offer ends July 1.

Our friend Dennis Curtin has released new Short Courses guides for the Canon EOS-D60 as well as the Sony DSC-F707.