Adobe Updates Lightroom to 3.5 (Release Candidate)

 image processing, Industry news, Software  No Responses »
Aug 242011
 

Lightroom cs4

Adobe updated Photoshop Lightroom to version 3.5 (release candidate) today. The update will be available for download on their Labs site until October 31, 2011. The update adds support for several new cameras including the new Olympus E-P3 family, the Panasonic G3 family, and Phase One’s P40+. P65+, IQ140, IQ160 medium format digital backs.

The inclusion of Phase One’s digital backs by Adobe can be interpreted as acknowledgement of Phase One’s dominance in the MFDB market. Or. it can be interpreted as Adobe trying to steal Phase One’s lunch (prior to this release of Lightroom, the only way to process Phase One IIQ files was with their proprietary Capture One software). With the inclusion of Phase One digital backs, Lightroom can now process images from all of the major medium format digital brands (Hasselblad, Leaf, Phase One, and the DNG based systems – Leica & Pentax).

Read the list of supported cameras and lenses after the jump.

I will be testing the output from Capture One, Lightroom 3.5RC and Phocus to see how they compare.

You can download the software from here.

 

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Sigma Corporation’s 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM lens named the “European Lens for 2011-2012”

 Industry news, Lenses, Photography  No Responses »
Aug 232011
 

Sigma Corporation’s 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM lens named the “European Lens for 2011-2012” by the European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) Photo Awards.

In April of this year, Sigma’s 70-200mm also won the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) “Best Expert Lens” award for its Optic Stabilization (OS) system, and its HSM function that provides smooth and silent auto focusing.923 70 200 f28 EX DG OS HSM

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Sony α77 Specs Leaked

 Cameras, Photography, Rumors  No Responses »
Aug 202011
 

Photorumors has gotten ahold of the specs for the upcoming Sony α77 cropped sensor pro camera. The camera is expected to be announced on August 24, 2011. While the specs hold great promise, many pros I have corresponded with are on the fence about this camera due to Sony’s use of an Electronic View Finder (EVF) instead of a traditional optical one. Though not listed below, the OLED EVF is supposed to sport around 3 million pixels which would make it the highest resolution EVF on the market to date.

Sony a77 camera front
Full specs and analysis after the jump.

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Sony α77 Leaks Starting to Appear

 Cameras, Photography, Rumors  No Responses »
Aug 122011
 

Sony’s highly anticipated SLT-A77 DSLR is expected to be announced on August 24th. Rumor sites have been all in a tizzy speculating on specifications, leaked images and so forth. A YouTube video has even virally surfaced.

I’m going out on a limb here and say that all of the stuff we have seen or read in the last two weeks are actually from Sony, who is taking advantage of the situation to generate interest.

 

Sony a77 camera front back
The SLT-A77 looks to be a fascinating camera.

 

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HELIOPAN VARIO ND FILTERS NOW UP TO 82MM!

 Accessories, Industry news, Photography  No Responses »
Aug 122011
 

Heliopan has just begun shipments of their new Vario ND filter in 82mm size. Like the 52 to 77mm sizes it is adjustable from 1 to6.6 stops of ND (0.3 to 2.0 density) by simply rotating the calibrated rim of the filter. The Heliopan Vario ND filter is totally neutralin color, it is mounted in a black anodized brass ring that is numerically calibrated for ease in repeating a desired density. The calibrationscale has an index for added convenience and the adjustable range

Heliopan Filter

is hard stopped at each end to save time in set-up anduse. The Heliopan Variable ND filter is very thin (8.7mm from the front edge to the front of the lens) to allow it to work on lenses aswide as 16mm without color shifts, vignetting or artifacts common in other variable ND filters.

The new Vario ND filter is now available in screw-in sizes from 52 to 82mm. The new Heliopan Vario ND filters are available from camera stores in the USA.

Specifications:

  • High quality solid brass rings.
  • Black anodized rings with stops at both ends of the ND range.
  • ND variable from 1 to 6.6stops (0.3 to 2.0 density).
  • Color neutral regardless of ND value.
  • Calibrated, repeatable settings.
  • Very thin mount to prevent vignetting
  • No artifacts with wide angle lenses
  • Even density, across the frame
  • Numerically calibrated with index
  • 8.7 mm thickness from front of lens to front of filter
  • Can be stacked with new Heliopan High Transmission circular polarizer with no colorshifts or artifacts

Heliopan Lineup

Leica Offers Upgrade Path for M9

 Cameras, Photography, Technology  No Responses »
Aug 022011
 

Allendale, NJ (August 2, 2011) – Leica Camera announces a new service for Leica M9 owners to incorporate the product features of the Leica M9-P into600px-Leica_Camera_logo.svg.png their existing M-System camera, resulting in an alternative, even more discreet and resilient design. Owners taking advantage of the service will also receive a one-year warranty extension. Through the North American Headquarters in Allendale, NJ, Leica will be offering a “Sapphire Glass” upgrade package and a “Top Cover and Sapphire Glass” upgrade package. Interested customers are encouraged to schedule appointments starting August 8, 2011 for upgrades from October 3, 2011 through Leica Camera, Inc.

The “Sapphire Glass” upgrade package offers the replacement of the M9 monitor cover with the M9-P’s scratch-resistant, sapphire crystal cover, a choice between vulcanite and smooth MP-style leatherette trim and a one-year warranty extension. The package will be available for $1,295. The second option, “Top Cover and Sapphire Glass”, includes the replacement of the monitor glass with sapphire crystal cover and the replacement of the top deck and base plate with silver chrome or black paint. The package also includes the choice of vulcanite or smooth MP-style leatherette trim and a one-year warranty extension. The package will be available for $1,995.

All upgrades will be performed by specifically trained technicians and will be a part of Leica’s regular repair service. Reservations are on a first come first serve basis and upgrade time is dependent upon demand. M9 owners can schedule upgrades beginning August 8, 2011 by calling 1-800-222-0118 x 9930.

Please visit the Leica website at www.leica-camera.com shortly before the start of the upgrade program for further information about the offer and the upgrading procedure.

Olympus Announces the E-PL3, VF-3 Viewfinder and FL-LM1 Flash

 Accessories, Cameras, Industry news  No Responses »
Jul 272011
 

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., July 27, 2011 – Imaging enthusiasts will rejoice knowing that they can finally get their hands on the desirable Olympus PEN E-PL3 – a powerful camera designed for photographers craving a portable camera with pro quality and point-and-shoot simplicity. The PEN E-PL3 is an interchangeable lens camera offering a sleek, metal body packed with versatile controls and lenses with professional image quality.

Available in September, the Olympus PEN E-PL3 will be sold at the affordable price of $699.99 and will deliver amazing image quality and lightning fast speed for brilliant still images and high-definition (HD) video. It will ship bundled with either a wide-angle zoom M.Zuiko 14-42mm lens (28mm-84mm equivalent), optimized for fast autofocus (AF) and silent AF operation, or the M. Zuiko 17mm ultra-compact and portable wide-angle pancake lens (34mm equivalent).

Olympus epl3 k 1000

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The First Photograph

 Photography, Training  No Responses »
Jul 272011
 
niepce - View from the Window at Le Gras

Frenchman Joseph Nicéphore Niépce (1765-1833) is credited with what is widely accepted as the first photograph, that is, a permanent photographic image as opposed to one that deteriorated shortly after creation or upon attempts at duplication.

Niépce experimented with lithography, which led him in his attempt to take a photograph using a camera obscura. Niépce also experimented with silver chloride, which darkens when exposed to light, but eventually looked to bitumen, which he used in his first successful attempt at capturing nature photographically. He dissolved bitumen in lavender oil, a solvent often used in varnishes, and coated the sheet of pewter with this light capturing mixture. He placed the sheet inside a camera obscura to capture the picture, and eight hours later removed it and washed it with lavender oil to remove the unexposed bitumen.

Niépce called his process heliography, which literally means “sun writing”.

PENTAX ANNOUNCES LIMITED EDITION 645D

 Cameras, Industry news  No Responses »
Jul 132011
 

GOLDEN, CO.  (July 13, 2011)…PENTAX Imaging Company has announced it will offer a limited edition 645D camera kit produced to celebrate the PENTAX 645D being named Camera Grand Prix Japan 2011 “Camera of the Year.” This limited edition camera features an elegant, lacquer-finished body. The components of this unique kit that will be available on a very limited basis include: 

  • PENTAX 645D Japan camera body
  • Leather Strap 645D Japan O-ST123
  • Body Mount Cap 645D Japan
  • Center-Spot-Matte Focusing Screen DS-80
  • Specially designed paulownia-wood packaging

PENTAX is planning built-to-order production of this model with a minimum four month delivery period from the date each order is placed.

First announced in June 2010, the PENTAX 645D is a high-performance medium-format digital SLR camera combining super-high-resolution digital images with approximately 40 effective megapixels that offers exceptional reliability and superb operability.

The camera was selected Camera GP Japan 2011 “Camera of the Year” for its array of original, outstanding features including a large CCD sensor, and a dependable, dust-proof, weather-resistant body that operates in temperatures as low as –10°C. 

Information about the camera, features, awards and product images is available here:www.pentaximaging.com/news 

The new model kit will be available for pre-order on www.pentaxwebstore.com

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