The Samsung WB2000 / TL350 hasn't garnered much attention since its release, being somewhat overshadowed by its big brother, the EX1. After a couple of weeks of use, though, we're hard-pressed to understand exactly why the Samsung WB2000 isn't on the short-list of every photographer looking for a capable and compact pocket digicam. The list of the WB2000's standout features is almost endless - 10 megapixel CMOS sensor, 24-120mm lens with fast f/2.4 maximum aperture, RAW format support, full range of creative shooting modes,10fps burst shooting, Full 1080p HD movies, 3 inch AMOLED screen - but can it deliver as an overall package? Read our in-depth Samsung WB2000 / TL350 review to find out... (via photographyblog.com)

In addition to launching a 120mm tilt-shift lens for Mamiya, Schneider Kreuznach will also release two perspective control lenses for Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony digital SLR cameras. The PC-TS Super-Angulon 2.8 / 50 HM and the PC-TS Makro-Symmar 4.0 / 90 HM are predominantly targeted at product and macro photographers, and allow 12mm of lateral shift plus 8 degrees of tilt. The lenses will be officially unveiled at Photokina next week. (via photographyblog.com)

Released as a free app on Apple's iTunes store, Strobox offers a variety of lighting diagrams for amateur and professional photographers.  Using the tools within the app, you can build diagrams for photo shoot as well as share the diagrams with your photography brethren.  The app creates PNG files from your diagrams which you can send via email with the iPhone. 
There is plenty of equipment to be found within the app for setting up the proper scenario.  Types of equipment includes strobes, backdrops, hairlights, diffusion panels, umbrellas and softboxes. The app can be downloaded for free here.

56 new DxO Optics Modules and user interface improvements.

The new version 6.1 of DxO Optics Pro for Windows adds support for 3 new cameras:
- Canon EOS 7D (Standard or Elite Editions);
- Canon PowerShot G11 (Standard or Elite Editions);
- Nikon D3000 (Standard or Elite Editions).

For this new release, DxO Labs fixed several bugs and also made some improvements to the user interface, based on customer feedback and suggestions, including:
- full screen display mode for increased visual comfort - additional shortcuts for improved productivity
- additional presets for increased flexibility

Check the full list of supported cameras & lenses inside

Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the release of two new lens products, compatible with the FX format. The fast telephoto AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II lens is equipped with vibration reduction (VR II) that reduces the effects of camera shake equivalent to a shutter speed increase of approximately four stops. The AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III, is the world’s first teleconverter* to utilize an aspherical lens element.

Nikon’s development of the FX-format D3-series and D700 digital-SLR cameras has received tremendous support from professional and advanced amateur photographers. Nikon is expanding NIKKOR lens and accessory lineups by releasing new, high-performance products compatible with the FX format, allowing us to cater to the more advanced demands of users. Read the whole article inside.

 Author Loe Beerens, a veteran photographer on the international concert scene, relates his experience in and knowledge of all the important aspects of planning and photographing concerts of all kinds in this new book from Rocky Nook, Three Songs, No Flash! ($24.95 USD). From punk to classical and everything in between, Loe covers how the music industry is organized, how to get access, the right people to befriend, and the proper etiquette of concert photography.
From preparation to equipment selection, the reader will learn how to make the most of those three songs from this richly illustrated book. Shooting techniques for each of the major musical instruments are covered, as well as capturing the peak action, post-production techniques, shooting in low light, and marketing your images.

Whether you are a photography enthusiast, a working professional, or just a lover of music, you will benefit from this informative guide. You can get the book here.

When Pentax announced the K10D back in 2006, it was a revolutionary camera for serious amateurs and professionals on a budget. The K10D was more rugged and feature-packed than any Pentax digital SLR before it. In 2008, the company decided to update their line with the Pentax K20D, but that camera was more evolutionary than revolutionary... so much so that many Pentax K10D owners never felt the need to upgrade.

The Pentax K-7 answers those complaints by including many features that have never been seen on a Pentax camera before. In-camera lens correction for distortion control, lateral chromatic aberration adjustment, expanded dynamic range with highlight correction and adjustable shadow correction - these are new features that help the K-7 stand apart from previous Pentax cameras. Read the whole review here. You can buy the camera here.

Yesterday we found a new Panasonic patent (from December 10) which shows a new FourThirds camera (not MicroFourThirds!).

It is very difficoult to read patents that’s why we made a small summary of the most interesting parts:

Live-View, Optical Viewfinder, mirror and prism, of course interchangeable FourThirds lens mount, CMOS sensor, supersonic vibration generator, No Video recording, No in body stabilzation.

And Photographybay just published their CES 2010 predictions and they say Panasonic will drop another FourThirds DSLR!!! Read the whole article here

The Powershot G series has represented a fairly formidable presence at the top of the compact camera tree. From a keen photographer point-of-view, there's little on the market that can match its mixture of zoom range, lens flexibility, build quality and level of manual control. Somehow Ricoh's GX and Nikon's P series have never quite had the same impact but Panasonic's LX3 has been enough to tempt some potential customers away, with its bright lens and convincing (for a compact) low-light performance.

The G11 seems determined to wrestle back its position as undisputed champion of the market, though, incorporating what Canon describes as a 'high sensitivity' CCD. In what might be a first, the company has reduced the pixel count in comparison to the preceding model. In principle, there is no disadvantage to having more pixels when you consider the whole image (other than the larger file sizes that might slow down the camera and fill your memory card faster and the added complication of having to apply noise reduction before demosaicing, which is not something many people are willing or able to do). However, the often larger photosites of a less pixel-dense sensor will tend to receive more light, in the same exposure, making it easier to produce an image that looks cleaner at the pixel level. Almost as if Canon wants its flagship compact to be a handy all-rounder. Read rge excellent review here. You can buy the camera here.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 is a new 12.1 megapixel compact camera with a 28mm, 4.6x Leica DC lens. The FP8 is quite different to previous designs from Panasonic, featuring a futuristic flat body and retracting lens with folding optics and blue LED cursor buttons that light up when pressed. In addition to the radical look, the Panasonic FP8 also offers 27 scene modes, including the High Dynamic mode which helps to capture a scene with moderate exposure, plus HD movies recorded at 720p quality, Venus Engine V image processor, Intelligent Auto mode for hassle-free shooting, and Power O.I.S to help prevent camera-shake. Available in red, black and silver, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 is priced at £249.99 / $299.95. Read the whole review here. You can buy the camera here.

The Sony Alpha DSLR A500 is Sony's latest released DSLR this year, along with the Alpha A550. The Alpha A500 and A550 are so close in specifications (a common strategy with Sony DSLRS within the DSLR lineup) that there won't be too much new information to report here in terms of 'paper performance' when compared to the A550 review I prepared, yet I will report on various areas of difference in details that I think are truly worth reading and hit areas that I didn't cover for the A550 review. Together both reviews should give the reader a combined and informative article in total between both cameras, and clarify some key differences that you would experience had you bought both cameras and compared them yourself. Read the review here. You can buy the camera here.

Canon releases a new firmware update for the EOS-1Ds Mark III (Version 1.2.0) and the EOS-1D Mark III (Version 1.3.0). The update incorporates the support for the WFT-E2 II wireless file transmitter that was released in December 2009. At the same time, firmware update Version 2.0.0 has been released for the WFT-E2 / E2A wireless file transmitter to support the EOS-1D Mark IV digital SLR camera. If you are using the WFT-E2 / E2A with the EOS-1D Mark III or EOS-1Ds Mark III, you do not need to update the firmware... Firmware update after the link

Casio America, Inc. announced today the launch of the company’s “Animate and Share” Web site (www.animateandshare.com), allowing consumers to experience Dynamic Photo fun through the creation of entertaining and unique eGreetings. Visitors can add a creative touch to their photos and bring them to life with Casio’s exciting animation feature on the company’s new virtual camera site. Each new user can share their creativity with the option to send their Dynamic Photo as an egreeting or through email or upload to social networks like Facebook.com. Casio’s new virtual camera site allows customers to experience Dynamic Photo enjoyment before making a purchase. Read the whole article inside

The City of London Police has repeated its call for photographers to carry identification in spite of insistence by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) that photographers do not need to identify themselves.

Last week City of London Police told us: 'Photographers should carry identification where possible and be prepared to answer questions about why they are taking photographs, if they are asked.'

However, a few days later ACPO, which co-ordinates police policy in England and Wales, told the BBC that photographers can refuse to give their name and address.

ACPO spokesman Andy Trotter told the BBC's Jeremy Vine radio show on Monday: 'The photographer is not required to give their details.' rada more here

Sony Europe introduces two new Cyber-Shot digital cameras in the W-Series. The Cyber-Shot W180 and W190 are entry level cameras with 10.1 resp. 12.1 megapixel resolution and a 3x optical zoom lens, featuring easy to use convenient shooting functions, a Smile Shutter function to automatically capture smiling portraits, SteadyShot and seven Scene Selection modes. The new Cyber-shot W180 and W190 compact digital cameras are available from July in a choice of three colors: silver, black and red... read the whole article here

Nikon's plan to cut 1,000 jobs worldwide will have no direct impact on the firm's imaging division, a company spokeswoman has said.
Earlier this week Nikon Japan announced the cutbacks as part of a plan to restructure its Precision Equipment business, which makes semiconductors.
Asked to clarify the position regarding its imaging division, a UK spokeswoman told Amateur Photographer: 'As the cuts have been made within a separate arm of the business, we are not really in a position to comment as there is no direct impact on imaging at this time.' via amateurphotographer.co.uk