Rumor has it that the Fuji FinePix 40i (camera + MP3 player), Fuji FinePix 1300, and Nikon Coolpix 880 will in my hands by the end of this week. I'm hoping for a Canon PowerShot G1 next week as well.

Polaroid introduced a number of new cameras at the Photokina show. Here's a brief summary:

I-Zone Digital & Instant Combo Camera

• 640 x 480 digital photos
• Uses Polaroid's I-Zone instant film (this is much smaller than traditional Polaroid film)
• Serial connection to PC only
• Stores up to 18 photos in internal memory
• Shipping soon for $99
• The Olympus C-211Z Digital Printing Camera is sort of the big brother of this camera. -Ed.

Polaroid also introduced a MP3/camera combo, as well as a 2.3 Mpixel zoom camera -- more details as soon as I can find them.

Minolta's new Dimâge 2330 Zoom is another new camera introduced at Photokina. The stats on this one:

• 2.31 Mpixel CCD (1792 x 1200 photos)
• 3X optical + 2.5X digital zoom
• CompactFlash support (Type I)
• ISO 100 equivalent
• USB support
• Ships with an 8MB card for $499

Panasonic's new PV-DC3000 ipalm camera is the world's first to use the new SD Memory cards. These stamp-sized cards promise to be interchangeable with other SD compatible devices. My concern is that it's another proprietary memory card format (a la Memory Stick). Here's the stats on this new camera:

• 3.3 Megapixel CCD produces 2048 x 1546 images
• 2X optical (32-64mm equivalent) and 3X digital zoom
• Compatible with both SD and MultiMediaCard formats
• USB support
• One button image transfer to your PC
• Records 12 second QuickTime movies w/sound
• Time lapse mode
• Ships in October with a 16MB MMC for $899.95

The craziness at my real job should begin winding down towards the middle of the week... just in time for the Photokina show in Germany! Once that starts I'll update the site as news breaks (more or less) -- but until then, please be patient!

I'm out of cameras to review at the moment (that will likely change soon) -- so I'll be updating the Reviews & Info section with new user reviews in the meantime.

Canon's new PowerShot G1 looks like it's going to give the Olympus C-3030Z, Nikon Coolpix 990, and Kodak's DC4800 a run for the money. I can't wait for this one! Here's the stats:

• 3.3 Megapixel CCD produces photos at 2048 x 1536
• 3X optical zoom, equivalent to 34 - 102mm; many lens adapters available.
• Variable-angle LCD can rotatre up to 270 degrees
• Support for CompactFlash Type II (Microdrive included)
• USB support
• 30 bit RGB "RAW" mode takes up just 2.5MB of disk space
• Super-fast processing and 1.8 sec shot-to-shot delay
• Manual control of nearly everything (exposure, focus, flash, metering, etc)
• 12 EOS System-based picture taking modes
• ISO ratings of 50 - 400
• AVI Movie mode (320 x 240, 15fps, 30 seconds)
• Compatible with Canon EX-series Speedlites
• Wireless remote control
• Li-ion battery is charged inside the camera
• Software bundle includes PhotoShop 5.0LE, QuickTime 4.1, ZoomBrowser EX 2.4 (for PC) and ImageBrowser 1.4 (for Mac), PhotoRecord 1.2 (PC) and PhotoStitch 3.1 (Mac/PC). Also interesting is RemoteCapture 1.1, which lets your Mac or PC control the camera.
• Shipping in October for $999

Nikon has released new firmware for two of their digital cameras. First, there's v. 1.1 of the Coolpix 990 firmware. This update improves auto focus, playback speed, white balance, menus, Best Shot Selector, and the review function, as well as adding support for Nikon's remote release cable.

Have a Coolpix 700? Then you'll want to update your firmware to version 1.1.

It's been a busy week for new cameras, much to my surprise. Fuji has announced two new cameras - one new low-end camera, and a midrange camera too.

FinePix 1300

• Replaces the best-selling MX-1200
• 1.3 Mpixel CCD produces 1280 x 960 photos
• 2X digital zoom
• Fixed focus
• ISO equivalent of 125
• 1.6" LCD display
• Fast startup (1 sec) and shot-to-shot speed
• USB support
• Shipping in October with an 8MB SmartMedia card for $249

FinePix 2400 Zoom

• Based on the FinePix 1400 (see our review)
• 2.1 Mpixel CCD produces 1600 x 1200 photos
• 3X optical (equivalent to 39-117mm) plus 2.5X digital zoom
• Auto focus
• ISO equivalent of 100
• 1.6" LCD display
• USB support
• Ships this month with an 8MB card for $499
• Looks like they're keeping up with the Olympus D-490Z --Ed.

Sony yesterday introduced a new compact 3 Mpixel camera - the DSC-P1. This little guy looks like it'll give Canon a run for the money in the ultra small department. The stats:

• 3.3 Mpixel CCD produces 2048 x 1536 photos
• 3X optical + 6X digital zoom
• 4.5 x 2.25 x 1.75 inches in size -- weighs 9 ounces
• Uses Sony's proprietary Memory Stick media
• "ClipMotion" feature turns 10 continous shots into an animated GIF
• Uncompressed TIFF mode
• MPEG video - includes a full frame 15fps mode
• Uses InfoLithium batteries
• USB support
• Optional Marine Pack waterproofs the camera for as deep as 30 meters
• Will ship in October for $800 (with an 8MB Memory Stick)

Steve's Digicams, Imaging Resource and DP Review have all posted their reviews of this camera.

(With apologies to Dennis Miller) Now I don't want to go off on a rant, but getting cameras from Sony is like pulling teeth. You know, those old teeth in the back that don't want to come out? You pull and you pull and they just refuse to come out no matter how hard you try. I'm having the same luck with getting any camera from Sony (or even a press release for that matter). If I sound frustrated, you're exactly right. Sony promises a resolution soon... we can only hope.

I'd like to welcome back to Active Buyers Guide to the DCRP. You might remember that it was predominantly displayed on the old "green" design, and then it disappeared. Well, it's back now in our navigation bar. There are some pages that don't look right now -- so don't tell me -- I know :-)

Keep in mind that I don't maintain any of the content in the Buyers Guide-- you'll want to contact the folks at Active Research with any comments.

DCRP sources have shed some light on an upcoming low cost Kodak camera - the DC3200. The stats look like this:

• 1.0 Mpixel CCD
• 2X digital zoom
• 2MB onboard RAM plus CompactFlash slot
• 1.6" LCD display
• No USB (serial for PC only)
• Priced around $250

I'll add more to this story as it unfolds - or if Kodak announces it!

FujiFilm is now shipping the FinePix 40i digital camera / MP3 player (shown above). In case you missed this one when it was announced, here are the stats again:

• 2.4 Mpixel SuperCCD produces 2400 x 1800 photos (a la FinePix 4700)
• 3.75X digital zoom
• USB support
• Uses SmartMedia
• Can record up to 80 secs of AVI video
• Supports all the usual MP3 player stuff
• Holds up to an hour of music on a 32MB card
• Available in metallic silver or blue (limited edition) for $699

Expect a review of this one next month, along with the FinePix 4900 Zoom, and if we're lucky, the FinePix S1 Pro.

Pentax is now shipping the EI-2000 and EI-200 SLR digital cameras in Japan. Both of these cameras are 2 Mpixel, and they both use Flashpoint's DigitaOS. More on these if they're announced here in the States.

It's another super busy week at my real job, so bear with me if updates are a bit sparse.

Ricoh today will introduce the RDC-i700 digital camera. Actually, camera is sort of a misnomer -- this thing has a little bit of everything. Here's the stats:

• 3.34 Mpixel CCD produces 2048 x 1536 photos
• 3X optical zoom
• Macro mode as close as 0.4"
• 3.5" touch screen LCD display "for viewing multimedia images, presentations, files and Web pages on the go"
• With included stylus, you can jot notes or "type" directly on the LCD
• PC Card slot supports modems, LAN and storage cards
• Includes a "Virtual Assistant" that "integrates Microsoft Word and Excel templates inside the camera to help generate data management, guided capture and text/HTML-based applications. It provides the ability to automatically populate pre-defined source files and then transfer the information directly to the PC."
• Camera can be linked to your computer's web browser for image management and copying
• Can also capture short movies, as well as voice memos.
• Shipping in Japan next week for US$1500

Sharp will be manufacturing Kodak's low end (sub $200) cameras in the near future through an OEM deal.

The much delayed DCRP Review of the Kodak DC3400 has been posted! This camera is a slightly updated verison of the DC280. It's good, but not the best buy for the money.

The review of the Kodak DC3400 will be posted tomorrow (the photo gallery is already up). Sorry for the delay -- I've been swamped at my "real job" lately which has really drained my time and energy.

Things are looking interesting for our next reviews: the Nikon Coolpix 880 will be here in a few days, and I may get my hands on a production Sony MVC-CD1000 as well.

HP has introduced some insanely fast new color printers. The two most relevant to DCRP readers are the PhotoSmart 1218/xi and 1215 ($499 and $399 respectively). The stats:

• Fast print speeds: 17ppm black & white / 13ppm color on the 1218/xi, and 15ppm black & white / 12ppm color on the 1215.
• Built-in CompactFlash and SmartMedia slots for printing right off of your cards.
• Can print at 2400 x 1200 in "photo mode"
• Infrared printing support
• Separate tray for 4 x 6" paper
• Two-sided printing
• USB support
• Mac compatible

Where in the world is Jeff? Well, I took a few days of "vacation" from the DCRP, and spent some time in beautiful San Diego.

I took a number of pictures with the Kodak DC3400, and have posted the complete photo gallery. I took a number of photos of two beautiful sunsets that you'll want to check out. The review will arrive at some point this week.

After that review is done, I'm not really sure what's next - I'm out of cameras. There's a lot of Olympus cameras to review, as well as the Coolpix 880, and I'm still trying to get Sony cameras. Stay tuned!

Panasonic has announced the new PV-5000SD SuperDisk PalmCam digital camera. This is the follow-up to the PV-SD4090 SuperDisk camera that I reviewed last year (and wasn't impressed with, incidentally). With some impressive stats, here's hoping that the SD5000 has improved. Here they are:

• 3.3 Mpixel CCD - produces 2048 x 1536 photos
• 3X optical + 3X digital zoom
• Uses Imation's 120MB SuperDisks - up to 1,000 photos per disc! Can also use regular floppy disks.
• Uncompressed TIFF mode
• USB support
• Doubles as a floppy drive (floppyless Mac users take note)
• 2.5" LCD display
• Captures up to 12 seconds of QuickTime video with sound
• "RapidFire Picture Taking" - takes up to 12 photos before writing to the disc (a big improvement from the old camera)
• Shipping in October for $1099 (!)

Leica has their own version of the Fuji FinePix 4700 known as the DIGILUX 4.3 (their previous DIGILUX model was the Fuji MX-1700 rebranded).

Agfa will introduce two new low-end cameras at the Photokina show in Germany: the CL20 and CL22. The two cameras are identical except for the CL20's lack of an LCD. They both have a resolution of 1024 x 768, and can interpolate up to 1.3 Mpixels. They also support video conferencing at 30 frames/sec (320 x 240), and support both USB and CompactFlash. The two cameras also have a "PhotoPrint" button which will send a photo directly to Agfa's AGFAnet Print Service, where they can be transmitted to a photo lab for printing. They're expected to ship in Europe this fall - no word on a U.S. introduction just yet.