SilkypixUK has launched the full release version of Silkypix Developer Studio v4 (4.0.27.2) and Pro (4.1.27.2) with full support for the Sigma SD14, DP1, DP1s and DP2. These version also add support for Sony's recently launched A500 and A550 DSLRs. UK customers can obtain updates from the company's website. The updates should be available from US distributor Shortcut Software very soon.
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October 2009
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December 2009
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November 2009 news and reviews
November 27
November 26
Ricoh has announced a firmware update for its GR Digital III digital compact. The latest version will bring in additional features and improvements to the camera including compatibility with GF-1 external flashgun, addition of 1.5m snap focus distance and improved playback functions. The firmware will be available for download from December 1, 2009 from Ricoh's website.
November 25
Panasonic has released firmware updates for its DMC-GF1 camera and five of its Micro Four Thirds interchangeable lenses. Firmware v1.1 for the GF1 promises a series of improvements to features such as autofocus in movie mode and the Manual Focus Assist function, as well as enhancing auto white balance performance. Firmware updates for the 14-45mm, 45-200mm, 14-140mm HD, 7-14mm and 20mm pancake lenses offer improved autofocus in movie mode and extend AF support to 'Full HD' mode for the 14-45mm and 45-200mm lenses. The firmware updates are available for immediate download from Panasonic's website.
November 24
Lensbaby has invited photographers to submit images taken with one of its products for a chance to be published in an upcoming book. Photographers have until December 31, 2009 to submit up to two images via the company's website. Successful entries will be announced on Lensbaby's website on January 15, 2010.
Tokyo-based electronics company NEC has developed a technology to eliminate noise from by AF and zoom motors in digital camera videos. At present focus and zoom motors are slowed or disabled to prevent noise being collected by internal microphones. NEC's technology processes-out motor sounds using a similar method used by noise-canceling headphones. Its system takes a three-stage approach to accurately match its suppression to the noises of the specific camera. With manufacturers' increasing concentration on HD movies, this is a technology we'd like to see used, if it allows the effect of zoom and focus to be seen and not heard.
November 23
All the major DSLR makers have responded to the launch of Windows 7 and we've collected together the links with more information on compatibility. Meanwhile, Nikon has said it will offer compatible versions of its Transfer and ViewNX software by the end of January 2010 (although it claims there are currently no problems with 'basic' operations).
November 20
PocketWizard has released beta firmware updates for its ControlTL, MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 radio flashgun triggers for Canon DSLRs. Firmware v4.374 enables fully automatic camera detection and fixes minor bugs. It also adds the Metz 58 AF-1 flashgun to the list of compitible flash units for MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 triggers.
Sigma US has announced a scholarship contest for high school students seeking higher education in a photo-related field. The winner will receive a $5,000 cash gift and $1,000 in Sigma products. To enter, US high school seniors graduating in 2010 are required to submit an 800-word essay and three to five images with a connected theme. The contest will run until February 15, 2010 with the winner announced in May.
November 19
Hasselblad has announced a Multi-Shot (MS) version of its H3DII-50 medium format camera. First shown in the H3DII-39 MS in 2008, the system captures four shots in a row, moving the sensor by one pixel between each shot to record full RGB values at each position. THe H3DII-50 MS costs €23,000 with less expensive trade-in prices and a trade-up route for Hasselblad owners.
Adobe has released 'Release Candidates' of Photoshop Camera Raw 5.6, Lightroom 2.6 and DNG Converter 5.6 for immediate download from Adobe Labs. The updates fix minor issues and provide additional Raw support for 19 more DSLRs, including the Canon EOS 7D and Nikon D3s, with additional DNG support for the Leica M9. The 'release candidate' label means the downloads are 'well tested' but not yet final versions.
November 18
Casio has unveiled the world's slimmest 'rugged' compact in the shape of Exliim EX-G1 - its thinnest side measures just 20mm (0.78"). The first in the company's new 'Exilim G' series of weatherproof cameras, named in reference to the company's well-known G-Shock series of watches. The G1 is designed to be dustproof, waterproof up to 3 meters for an hour, coldproof down to -10°C (14°F) and shock-resistant for drops of up to 2.13 meters. It incorporates a 38-114mm equivalent lens, 2.5" LCD, 12.1MP sensor and includes features such as Intelligent AF, Best Shot shooting mode and Interval shooting. Priced at US $299 and £279 GBP, the camera will start shipping from December 2009.
November 17
Bryce Bayer, inventor of the color filter array used to determine color in virtually every modern digital camera has been given the UK Royal Photographic Society's Progress Award. Commonly known as the Bayer filter or Bayer pattern, his invention of a pattern of red, green and blue filters allows a light (but not color) sensitive sensor to record a broad range of colors in similar proportions to the sensitivity of the human eye. The work, conducted while working for Kodak, was patented in 1975 and originally described a system intended for recording video.
November 16
Just Posted: Our in-depth review of the D300S. By adding 720p HD video recording with contrast-detection AF and upping the continuous shooting rate to 7 frames per second, Nikon has made only subtle changes for its latest flagship APS-C DSLR, the D300S. However, its predecessor was an excellent camera and one that has proven hard to beat. So, has Nikon done enough to face up to Canon's rather impressive EOS 7D? Read our 30 page review to find out.
Carl Zeiss is upgrading eight of its F-mount lenses by adding an electronic interface (CPU), allowing full support of automatic exposure modes and the inclusion of lens-related data to EXIF. Priced between €545 and €1,386, six of the new Nikon-mount ZF.2 series lenses will be available from the end of this month: 18mm/f3.5, 21mm/f2.8 , 35mm/f2, 50mm/f1.4, 50mm/f2 and 85mm/f1.4, while the Distagon T* 28mm/f2 and macro Planar T* 100mm/f2 will be introduced in Spring 2010. A reworked version of the Distagon T* 28mm/f2 will then follow in other mounts.
Casio Japan has released two digital cameras that see the addition of 10MP back-illuminated CMOS sensors to existing models in the Exilim line-up. The Exilim EX- FH25 and EX-FC150 follow the EX-FH20 superzoom and EX-FC100 compact respectively, sharing similar features such as image stabilization, burst shooting rates of up to 40fps and movies at 1000fps.
November 13
Canon has released a 'White Paper' of its recently released EOS-1D Mark IV pro DSLR containing in-depth details of the camera features. It additionally covers comparison to predecessors and an overview of compatible software and accessories. All Canon white papers, including the one for EOS-1D Mark IV, are available for free download from their website.
November 12
Bibble labs has released a preview version 3 of its Bibble 5 RAW workflow software. This latest version extends support to 50 new cameras and offers faster RAW file conversion, selective non-destructive editing tools and better photo organization options than its previous versions. It is available for immediate download from the Bibble Labs website.
Just added: Our gallery of images from a pre-production Leica S2. Just recently Leica announced a delay in production of its new S2 autofocus medium format DSLR which will now be available from December. However, we already have our hands on a pre-production model and took it out into the gray London autumn for some snapshots. So here are a selection of images using both the APO-TELE-ELMAR-S 1:3.5/180 and the SUMMARIT-S 1:2.5/70 ASPH lenses. There is a mixture of camera JPEGs and RAW conversions.
Sigma Japan has announced the availability of its 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS image-stabilized telephoto zoom lens in Sony and Pentax mounts. The lens is suitable for use on both APS-C and full frame DSLRs. Priced at 59,000 yen, the Sony version will start shipping from November 27, 2009 followed by the Pentax version from the first week of December 2009.
Eye-Fi has announced the addition of FTP support for its Share Video, Explore Video and Pro memory cards. With this service, users can now upload photos and videos directly to their personal FTP servers using either FTP or FTPS protocols. Currently offering support only to JPEG files and videos, the new FTP feature is listed along with other online sharing options in the Eye-Fi Manager.
November 11
Just posted! Our lens review of the Canon EF 100mm F2.8 L IS USM. A few months ago Canon announced a new optical image stabilisation technology, dubbed 'Hybrid IS', that promises greater effectiveness at close distances for which conventional IS systems tend to be ineffective. The first lens to feature this has duly arrived in the shape of Canon's latest 100mm Macro, which alongside image stabilisation has also gained the added attraction of the premium 'L' designation. We take a close look to see if it's worth the premium over the older EF 100mm F2.8 USM Macro, which remains in Canon's range.
November 10
Just Added: Our samples galleries of the Ricoh GXR camera system. We've been given a chance to get out and about with both the lens modules the company announced this morning. So here are a selection of Beta samples from both the A12 APS-C 50mm equiv. prime and the S10 1/1.7" 24-72mm zoom modules. We've prepared 52 shots taken at a range of ISOs, apertures and (where appropriate) focal lengths, including a mixture of camera JPEGs and RAW conversions.
After several weeks of rumors Ricoh has unveiled its first digital system camera, the GRX. The system takes a novel approach by offering interchangeable slide mount 'lens units' - sealed modules containing both optics and sensor, meaning it can switch from a large (APS-C) 12 MP CMOS with a fast prime lens to a tiny 10 MP CCD (with a 24-70mm lens). We've had a pre-production GXR system in the office for a week and have produced an in-depth hands-on preview which you'll find after the link. We've also taken lots of pictures with both lens modules so look out a little later today for an extensive gallery of samples.
November 9
Pentax Europe has said its forthcoming online store will provide wider access to accessories, rather than cameras as previously reported. The move will allow the company to directly sell a wider range of products to consumers in UK, Germany France, Switzerland and Hungary. A statement from the company corrects an earlier press release from online shopping specialist Digital River about an online store that will be established before the end of the year. Pentax has struggled to achieve widespread distribution of its full product range in some European markets in recent years.
November 6
Just Posted: Our in-depth review of the Canon EOS 7D. With a new 18 MP sensor, a 100% viewfinder, weather-sealed body, a new 19 point AF system and Dual Digic 4 imaging processors the EOS 7D is clearly aiming for the top spot in the semi-pro/enthusiast bracket of the market. What does the competition have to say about that? How does the camera fare in our studio tests? Read our in-depth review and find out.
Adobe has introduced Photoshop.com Mobile as an application for mobile phones running the Android operating system. It enables users to view, edit and apply effects to images. Once edited, images can be uploaded to the user's Photoshop.com account for sharing or back-up purposes. Currently available only in the US and Canada, the application is available as a free download from the Android Market.
To make your pockets a little lighter this holiday season, we have put together a list of rebates and discounts available from leading digital camera and lens manufacturers. So, before you shell out money for your gifts make sure to go through the list of available promotions. We will update this article regularly over the holiday season.
November 5
Olympus has announced two Micro Four Thirds lenses and published an updated 'roadmap' of lenses it plans to introduce. The latest lenses are the M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 wideangle and the M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm F4.0-5.6 superzoom, both of which will be available in the first half of 2010. The roadmap mirrors aspects of the company's Four Thirds lineup, promising a fisheye, wideangle and telephoto macro primes and a super-telephoto zoom.
Just Posted: Our preview samples gallery from the Leica X1. We've had a fully functional sample of Leica's high-end large-sensor compact for a few days now, just long enough to grab a few sample shots to give you an initial impression of the image quality attainable at a range of ISO settings and apertures.
Olympus has announced the E-P2 just five months after the launch of its first Micro Four-Thirds camera, the E-P1. It's a minor upgrade with the addition of a port for a new high resolution electronic viewfinder (or external microphone), two new Art filters and a pearlescent black finish. It also gains AF tracking and includes a new i-Enhance 'colour boosting' function. Available from January 2010, the E-P2 with VF-2 electronic viewfinder and either 17mm pancake or 14-42mm zoom lens will sell for a suggested retail price of $1099.99.
November 3
Kodak has introduced the Pic Flick print and share application for Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch. Currently available only in the US, the free app allows users to wirelessly print images from their iPhone and iPod Touch on Kodak's recently released Wi-Fi-enabled ESP 5250 All-in-One printer or upload them on the Easyshare W820 and W1020 wireless digital frames.
November 2
Camera bag maker Kata has launched the 'Dream Bag Challenge' with the opportunity to win the perfect camera bag. The person submitting the best 'dream' camera bag design will win their bag, packed with $5000 worth of photographic gear including a Canon EOS 5D Mark II body + two lenses, a Gitzo tripod kit and a Metz flash. Winners of the second and third prize categories will win a Kata bag packed with gear worth $4000 and $3000 respectively. Entries close on March 1st, 2010.
Carl Zeiss has launched the Distagon T* 2/35 ZE wide-angle lens in Canon EF mount, for both analog and digital EOS SLRs. This manual focus lens, with its large f2 aperture, is made up of 9 elements in 7 groups. Previously available in ZF (Nikon), ZK (Pentax) and ZS (M42 screw mount), the ZE mount version will start shipping from November 16 for a retail price of US $870.
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