September 2007 news and reviews

Adobe has released version 6 of Photoshop Elements, improving ease of use and featuring new tools such as Photomerge to combine the best parts of several group shots. There is a new Quick Selection tool and three edit modes aimed at different skill levels. This latest release is available now for Windows - a Mac version will follow in early 2008 - for US$99.99 (upgrade $79.99) or $149.99 bundled with Adobe's Premiere Elements 4 video-editing software.

Just posted! Our latest hands-on preview of the very latest as-yet unreleased digital SLRs continues with the Nikon D3, the bigger brother to the D300. Nikon's first full-frame digital SLR also features live view, a high resolution three inch LCD monitor and HDMI output. See how the D3 is shaping up in our twelve page hands-on preview.

Just posted! Our detailed hands-on preview of the Nikon D300 digital SLR. Our preview covers the design of the camera, control layout, operation use, displays and menus. Also included is a closer look at the D300 implementation of live view including videos of it in use. We've also explored HDMI output and included a couple of 720p video clips to give you an idea of how high definition may change the way we use video output on digital cameras.

Nearly two years after Konica Minolta transferred its camera division over to Sony, and over a year after Sony's first DSLR (the A100), today is the day that the curtain is finally lifted on the long-awaited 'high end' Alpha digital SLR (in principle the replacement for the Konica Minolta 7D). The new model sports an impressive specification including magnesium alloy construction, 12MP CMOS sensor (with on-chip A/D conversion), 5fps shooting and a wealth of features and customization options, though interestingly (given the recent spate of announcements) no live view option. There's also a couple of new lenses and a new vertical shooting grip. We've had a pre-production A700 for a couple of weeks in order to produce a detailed hands-on preview, available now.

Bibble Labs has updated its raw converter to include support for three new cameras - The Canon EOS 40D, Pentax K100D Super and Fujifilm Finepix E550 (hmm, that's not so new but welcome nonetheless). The 40D support includes tethered shooting and sRAW compatibility. The software, which also incorporates some bug fixes is available now and it's a free update for existing users of Bibble 4.

We have just received official word that Olympus will reveal the successor to their top-of-the-range E-1 digital SLR, currently dubbed the E-P1 although rumored to be called the E-3, on 17th October. While no details about the camera have yet been officially announced there have been numerous leaks point to ten megapixels, Liveview, in-body image stabilization (like the E-510), five frames per second and eleven area auto-focus (as well as normal pro features such as full metal body, weatherproofing, etc.).