Under the guise of Project Icarus, a group of MIT students launched a digital camera into near-space to take photographs of the earth from high up above. Though several other groups have accomplished similar feats, the MIT group spent a mere $150. Later tonight, they plan to post a tutorial on how to DIY.

[ via KenRockwell ]

Related Link:
- Wired

Steve’s Digicams has published their review of the Samsung SL420 / PL60 [QuickPrice Check],an ultra compact digital camera with “excellent image quality that rivals that of more expensive cameras” and featuring 10.2MP (1/2.33-in. CCD), 5x optical zoom (35-175mm equiv.), optical Image Stabilization, 2.7-in. Intelligent LCD (230K dots), Smart AUTO, Scene Modes, Auto Contrast Balance, Frame Guide, Perfect Portrait System, and Movie 640 X 480 30fps.

Steve’s Digicams has posted their review of the Nikon Coolpix S620 [Specs], a point-and-shoot digital camera that "capture[s] pleasing snapshots" with its 12.2MP resolution (1/2.33-in. CCD), 4x wide-angle optical zoom (28-112mm equiv.), optical image stabilization, 2.7-in. LCD (230K dots), VGA movie (640×480) @ 30fps, D-Lighting, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix, Face-Priority AF, Smile Mode, and Scene Auto Selector.

[ Read the Nikon S620 Review at: Steve's Digicams ]

Steve’s Digicams has posted their review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 / TZ6, a compact ultrazoom with "excellent image quality and performance" and featuring 10.1MP (1/2.5-in. CCD) resolution, 12x wide-angle optical zoom (25-300mm equiv.), optical Image Stabilization, 2.7-in. LCD (230K dots), Intelligent Auto (iA) Technology (which automatically combines Subject Detection, Shake Detection, Motion Detection, Face Detection AF/AE, Scene Detection and Light Detection), Macro Zoom, Panorama Assist, Leveling, and Movie 848×480 @ 30fps.

[ Read the Panasonic ZS1 / TZ6 Review at: Steve's Digicams ]

Steve’s Digicams has posted their review of the Olympus SP-590UZ [Specs], an ultra zoom digital camera with "great image quality" and featuring 12 MP resolution (1/2.33 in. CCD), 26x wide-angle optical zoom (26-767mm equiv.), Sensor-shift Image Stabilization, 2.7-in. LCD (230K dots), Pre-Capture feature, Face Detection AE/AF, In-Camera Panorama stitching, Movie 640×480 @ 30fps, Shadow Adjustment technology, PASM.

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Thought we’d have some fun and create a T Shirt for all those who would like to own a Leica M9 but cannot afford it (or would rather spend the money somewhere else). We have a Man or Woman T Shirt, white with a steel-grey M9 printed at just below chest height, where a camera would naturally hang from a shoulder strap. It looks good if you just pretend you’re holding it in one hand. Makes a great gag gift, though beware it might cause your spouse’s heart to stop when s/he hears, “Honey, I bought a Leica!” Or use it as a hint for what you’d really like to receive this Holiday Season.

Tutorials on how to add a film grain effect into your photos.

With all the discussions we have about digital cameras producing too much noise at high ISOs, some readers may be surprised to learn that the right kind of noise may not be a bad thing in a photo.

In fact, high ISO film grain (especially in B&W) has a charming effect all its own. In the following tutorials, the authors show how to add that film grain effect.

Film Grain Effect Tutorials:
- Film Grain Effect in Photoshop [video]
- Natural Film Grain using Photoshop
- Realistic Film Grain in Photoshop [step-by-step tutorial]
- Film Grain Effect in Flash [video]
- How to create a Film Grain effect in Flash