Echenique dot com

Last year, on September 9, 2009 (09/09/09), Leica Camera surprised everyone by unveiling their second generation digital M rangefinder camera, the Leica M9. The photographic world was pleasantly surprised that Leica, who had vehemently denied the development of a new digital rangefinder, managed to pull this rabbit out of the hat.

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Elmsford, NY – March 1, 2010 – Mamiya today announced the addition of the new Mamiya DM40 to its lineup of professional large-sensor DSLRs. Featuring a resolution of 40 megapixels with a peak capture rate of .8 seconds per frame and a sustained capture rate of 60 frames per minute, the Mamiya DM40 is the industry’s fastest large-sensor DSLR.

The heart of the DM40 system is the new “DF” camera-core technology, developed by Mamiya, featuring two user-selectable shutter systems: leaf or focal plane. In demanding daylight situations, photographers can use predictable high speed flash synchronization to fill-in or overpower even the brightest ambient light on one of three new leaf-shuttered lenses designed by Schneider-Kreuznach and manufactured by Mamiya. The lenses – available in focal lengths of 55mm, 80mm, and 110mm – deliver an effective maximum flash sync speed of up to 1/1600th of a second. For more conventional situations, photographers can choose any one of 15 other world-class Mamiya optics, from 28mm to 300mm APO, designed for use with the cameras’ focal plane shutter system.

Also newly announced, the Mamiya DM40 Digital Back will be available for those customers who wish to obtain the latest in high-speed and resolution digital capture for their existing Mamiya or large format camera. Supported cameras include: Mamiya 645AFD series, 645DF, Mamiya RZ series (via optional adapter), Mamiya RB series (via optional adapter), and 4×5 view cameras (via optional adapter).

Specifications Highlights

CCD: 44 x 33mm, 40 Megapixel

Largest file size: 240 MB 16 bit TIFF

ISO: 80-800

Capture rate: 0.8 sec/frame

Digital imaging user interface: 6×7cm LCD touchscreen

Pricing and Availability
The Mamiya DM40 DSLR kit will be available in the U.S. at $21,990, including Mamiya 80mm f.2.8 D lens. The Mamiya DM40 Digital Back, also available in the U.S. at $19,990. Both are expected to be shipping in March, and include Capture One and Leaf Capture software.

For more information, visit www.Mamiya.com

New Kid On The Block lens maker, Noktor has officially opened it’s website an is taking pre-orders for it’s HyperPrime 50mm f/0.95. Currently available in m4/3 mount, this lens is the fastest prime lens available for that format. Due to m4/3’s 2x crop factor, the Noktor 50mm has an EFL of 100mm making it an ideal portrait lens.

Speed-wise, this lens is as fast as Leica’s famed Noctilux 50mm f/0.95, but it remains to be seen whether its optics come anywhere near the caliber of Leica’s glass. Still, it’s a damn fast lens for less than 1/10 the price of the Noctilux. (The announced retail price of the Noktor is $750 USD. The retail price of the Leica Noctilux 50mm f/0.95 is $10,495 USD). The next closest lens would be the $1100 CV Nokton 50mm f1.1 which would still require the addition of a $200 M-m4/3 adapter.

I have contacted Noktor and am trying to arrange for a review sample. Cross your fingers.

SANTA ROSA, CALIF – Created as an homage to classic photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Frank, Think Tank Photo has created five soft-sided shoulder bags in its new Retrospective series. Designed for the professional photographer that wants to remain inconspicuous in any situation, the three shoulder bags and two lens changer bags retro look mixes “Old-School” with “New-School” that is a throwback to the days when bags where visually simple but highly functional.

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Arca Swiss (who still does not have a web presence) announced today their new technical camera, the RL3d. Sporting a new electronic viewfinder, this high-precision camera can accept 4×5 film backs as well as medium format digital backs. It is unknown whether this camera is compatible with Betterlight large format scanning backs.

“A universal system with modular elements”

“The RL3d is the dream camera for 4×5” photography”

“The new RL3d is available now!”

This state-of-the-art professional viewfinder camera comes equipped with new functions for making great high-resolution images both digitally and on film. Following the success of the Rm3d, ARCA-SWISS has introduced the RL3d, a universal camera with increased shift, opening up new horizons by enabling you to take images in multiple formats up to 4×5.”

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February 23, 2010 – (Allendale, NJ) – Leica Camera announced today that it will bring the latest and newest Leica products to major North American cities as part of the first-ever Leica North American Road Show. Leica’s product specialists will visit 26 cities over the course of 14 weeks; the road show will commence on March 18, 2010 in Miami, Florida and conclude on June 23, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee.  The series is designed to enhance participants’ knowledge of and familiarity with the M and S Systems.

The series will be equally valuable for amateur photographers who enjoy the best and finest as well as professional photographers who demand excellence in image quality and incomparable ease-of-use. Each participant will have access to experienced Leica photographers who can deepen their photographic abilities and enhance their shooting experience.

Topics covered during the Leica M and S-Events will include camera and lens orientation; troubleshooting and maintenance; understanding the digital imaging process; configuring your computer; organizing and storing your images; Adobe Lightroom introduction; color management introduction and  methods to produce better work in less time.

Participants to the M Event will have the unprecedented opportunity to become intimately familiar with the acclaimed Leica M9, the world’s smallest full-frame digital rangefinder camera and the M-System, including Leica’s newest lenses, the 18mm/f3.8, 50mm/f0.95 and the 24mm/f3.8. The S Event will showcase the exceptional offerings of the S-System, the defining instrument for fashion, beauty, advertising, landscapes, portraits and still photography, in addition to offering its participants the opportunity to take photographs.

The M Event will cost $99 per participant; the S Event will cost $149 per participant. Each participant will receive a voucher equal to the workshop fee, which can be used towards the purchase of a brand new serialized M or S Leica product from an authorized North American Leica dealer.  For additional information and to sign up, please visit www.leica-camera.us/news

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., February 22, 2010 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging and advanced office solutions, today answers the increasing demand for large format prints in the photographic, proofing and graphic arts market with the introduction of three new imagePROGRAF large format models – the 44-inch imagePROGRAF iPF8300, 24-inch imagePROGRAF iPF6350 and the iPF6300. Designed for precise, ultra high-quality print performance and increased productivity, each model features Canon’s new, 12-Color LUCIA EX pigment ink set and advanced printing technologies specifically developed to produce prints with an enhanced color range and improved durability. The new imagePROGRAF models will be unveiled at the Wedding & Portrait Photographer International (WPPI) Convention at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, March 8-11, 2010.

“In just four short years, Canon has introduced more than 20 imagePROGRAF large format printers to the market with each new model raising the bar for outstanding, vibrant image quality and overall versatility,” said Jim Rosetta, vice president and general manager, Imaging Systems Group, Canon U.S.A. “Coupled with our new LUCIA EX ink set and advanced media capabilities, the new imagePROGRAF models represent an ideal solution for the graphic, fine art, photography and proofing markets.”

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Sunny Miami – Thaw out and Learn

Hasselblad owners take advantage of low travel cost to get factory-trained in the hardware aspects of H1D, H2D, and H3D DSLR systems at the Hasselblad University Miami training class to be held in conjunction with the Graphics of the Americas trade show Saturday, February 27th from 10:00am – 4:00pm.

Digital techs can get certification and listed at Hotwire-Digital for referrals as well as beefing up an expanded portfolio of service capability for both tethered in studio and location or computer-free operation.

Link to registration

Working that day? Come by on Thursday or Friday (Feb 25-26) for hands-on sessions beginning at 10:00am open to all interested in viewing lens corrections, advanced use of the H3D digital magazine on another camera body, the HTS 1.5 tilt/shift lens adaptor, and a slew of equipment present to demonstrate the Hasselblad medium-format advantage.

Bring any H-system for free firmware updates on the spot.

Cupertino, California – February 22, 2010 – The CompactFlash Association (CFA) announces availability of the recently approved CF5.0 Specification.

The CF5.0 work group was formed in November, 2008 to add key features to the already popular CF4.1 specification based on the PATA (Parallel ATA) interface. The new CF5.0 specification adds the following key features/benefits to the memory card that started the digital photography revolution.

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Bibble Labs today announced the release of an update to its signature RAW image converter/editor. The new version includes:

26 Newly Supported Cameras!

This release is focused on camera support, and we’re happy to announce that more that two dozen new camera models have been added in 5.0.2.  Those include:

Leica: M8, M9, X1, Digital MODUL-R8, Digital MODUL-R9

Ricoh: GX-100, GX-200, GR Digital II, GR Digital III, GXR

Sony: a230, a380, a500

Canon: D30, D60, G2, G3, G5, G6, S40, S45, S50, S60, S70, Pro 1, SX1

New Feature: Soft Proofing

We couldn’t release a new version adding only additional camera support, so we’ve included Soft Proofing in this update as well.  Soft Proofing allows you to quickly visualize how your images will appear once printed using your printer’s color profiles.  Soft Proofing is a critical feature for photographers determined to achieve the most accurate prints and color reproduction, and we’re thrilled to be able to provide this feature for free to all Bibble 5 customers.

I was fortunate enough to be given early access to this update and was able to test it on a Leica M9 that I am currently reviewing. The color rendition is very, very nice and the sharpness is amongst the best I have seen.

You can download the update (or a free trial) here.