Tuesday, September 11, 2012
iCorrect OneClick Color for iPad and iPhone
PictoColor has released a new iOS app called iCorrect OneClick Color. Developed by FreshAir Software, iCorrect OneClick Color for iPad automatically corrects the colour and exposure of photos. The automatic correction can be fine tuned using sliders to independently adjust brightness, shadows, highlights, contrast, saturation, tint and colour temperature. iCorrect OneClick Color for iPad and iPhone are available on the App Store for $2.99.
Epson Announces Upgrade to Epson Connect
Epson has announced an upgrade to its suite of free Epson Connect mobile printing solutions. This update makes it easier for users to print photos, e-mails, documents and Web pages from anywhere in the world using an Epson Connect enabled printer and a variety of mobile devices, such as a smartphone, tablet, desktop or laptop computer. Key features of Epson Connect include Epson Email Print, Epson Remote Print and the iPrint mobile app. In addition, new Epson printers incorporate Apple AirPrint and Google Cloud Print technologies. For more information, visit the website below.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Pentax K-5 II / Pentax K-5 IIs
The Pentax K-5 II is a sixteen-megapixel digital SLR camera with an APS-C sized sensor and a completely new Safox X AF module that remains operational down to -3EV. Coupled with an upgraded AF algorithm, the camera is claimed to deliver exceptional AF performance, including such features as a select-area expansion function, which automatically tracks the subject even when it moves away from a pre-assigned select point. Launched in conjunction with the Pentax K-5 II is the Pentax K-5 II s that comes without an anti-aliasing filter for superior resolution. The Pentax K-5 II is available from early October for £799.99/$1,199.95, while the Pentax K-5 IIs carries a body-only price of £949.99/$1,299.95. The K-5 II is also available in a kit with the 18-55mm WR lens (for £869.99/$1349.95) and in a bundle with the 18-135mm WR zoom (for £1,119.99/$1,549.95).
Pentax Q10
The Pentax Q10 is a tiny, raw-capable compact system camera featuring a new, 12.4-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, improved AF operation, Shake Reduction and a Full HD movie-recording function. Other highlights include 5fps continuous shooting (for up to five JPEGs), a small built-in auto flash with a guide number of 7 (in metres at ISO 200), an easy-to-access Quick Dial to simplify the application of creative visual effects, a three-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 460,000 dots and a sensor dust buster that incorporates a supersonic vibration mechanism. The Pentax Q10 will be available from early October in white, black and red. The single-lens kit (with the 5-15mm lens) will cost £379.99/$599.95, while the double-zoom kit (which also includes the new 15-45mm lens) will retail for £539.99.
Pentax-06 Telephoto Zoom 15-45mm f/2.8
The Pentax-06 15-45mm f/2.8 is an 83-249mm equivalent telephoto zoom lens for Pentax Q series cameras. Thanks to its retractable design, the lens is designed to be super-compact and ultra-lightweight, weighing in at a mere 90 grams. The optical formula incorporates two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements and one super-low dispersion element. The lens has a built-in mechanical shutter that offers flash synchronisation right up to its fastest shutter speed. The Pentax-06 Telephoto Zoom 15-45mm f/2.8 lens is also equipped with a built-in ND (neutral density) filter, which comes in handy when shooting with open aperture in bright locations. The lens will be available from mid-October, at a recommended retail price of £249.99/$299.95. Note that the bespoke PH-RBA 40.5mm plastic lens hood will be an optional extra.
Pentax Adapter Q for K-mount Lenses
Pentax is set to launch an adapter that allows K-mount lenses to be mounted on Pentax Q series cameras. This enables photographers to use 215 different lenses on their Pentax Q bodies, with a crop factor of 5.5 - this means that a 300mm optic becomes equivalent to a 1650mm super-supertelephoto lens. Auto focus is not maintained and the aperture can only be adjusted manually. The adapter incorporates a five-bladed mechanical shutter with a top shutter speed of 1/1000 second. The Pentax Adapter Q will start shipping in October, at a recommended retail price of £249.99/$249.95. An optional tripod collar will also be available.
HD Pentax-DFA645 Macro 90mm F2.8 ED AW SR
The HD Pentax-DFA645 Macro 90mm f/2.8 ED AW SR is a new, stabilised short-telephoto lens designed for use with Pentax medium-format digital and film SLR cameras. Featuring Pentax-original HD coating — a newly developed, high-grade multi-layer lens coating — and the Pentax-designed, lens-installed SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism, this lens offers a focal length of approximately 71mm (or approximately 65mm when mounted on a Pentax 645 film-format camera body) in 35mm equivalence. The HD Pentax-DFA645 90mm f/2.8 ED AW SR doubles as a macro lens with a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:2. As part of the AW (All Weather) series, this lens also features a dustproof and weather-resistant construction with 11 environmental seals. The HD Pentax-DFA645 Macro 90mm f/2.8 ED AW SR will be available from early October, priced at £3,799.99/$4,499.95.
HD Pentax-DA 560mm F5.6 ED AW
The HD Pentax-DA 560mm F5.6 ED AW is a new super-telephoto lens for Pentax K-mount digital cameras. When mounted on a Pentax K-mount digital camera body, this super-telephoto lens offers an equivalent focal length of approximately 859mm in 35mm format. Since the lens’ unique telescope-type optics require fewer optical elements than conventional lenses, it delivers sharp, well-defined images, particularly of distant subjects, the company claims. The HD Pentax-DA 560mm F5.6 ED AW lens is treated with HD Coating, a new high-grade multi-layer lens coating developed by Pentax. A new addition to the AW (All Weather) series, this lens also features a dustproof, weather-resistant construction with 29 special seals. The HD Pentax-DA 560mm F5.6 ED AW will be available from early December for £5,999.99/$6999.95.
Pentax-DA 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 ED SDM
The smc Pentax-DA 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 ED SDM is a new superzoom lens for Pentax’s K-mount digital cameras. This 15x zoom lens offers a quiet “supersonic drive” AF motor, a minimum focusing distance of 0.49m over the entire zoom range, a rounded diaphragm to produce a smoothl bokeh, and an optical formula that incorporates two extra-low dispersion (ED) elements. The smc Pentax-DA 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 ED SDM will be available from early November, priced at £699.99/$799.95.
Canon EOS 650D Review
The Canon EOS 650D (called the Canon EOS Rebel T4i in North America) is a new DSLR camera that boasts 18-megapixels, full 1080p high-definition videos with continuous auto-focusing, and a touch-screen interface. Other key features of the 650D / T4i include burst shooting at 5fps, a vari-angle 3-inch LCD screen with 1,040k dot resolution, ISO range of 100-25,600, 14-bit image processing and Canon's Digic 5 processor. Is the Canon EOS 650D / T4i the best mid-range digital SLR camera on the market? Read our expert review to find out...
Magnum Professional Practice: Brighton
The next Magnum Professional Practice seminar will be held from13-14th October in Brighton, England. In this two day event, leading figures of the photographic industry will deliver presentations and advice on the best means in engaging with and the realities of working in their sectors. Confirmed speakers include David Birkitt, Jessica Crombie, Celia Davies, Harry Hardie, Diane Smyth, Rebecca Swift and Peter Marlow. The tuition fee is £200+VAT including lunch but excluding transport & accommodation. Bursary places for photographers aged 16-25 years are available via IdeasTap for the subsided rate of £50 +VAT.
Transcend Launches 128GB Class 10 SDXC Memory Card
Transcend today announced the company’s first 128GB SDXC memory card. According to the company, each 128GB SDXC card can store a full 32 hours of 1080p Full HD footage (based on 1920x1080 9Mbps H.264 AVC compression) or over eight thousand fourteen-megapixel raw images. These cards comply with the SD 3.0 Class 10 speed rating, which guarantees write speeds of at least 10MB/s but can even achieve read/write speeds of up to 22/16MB per second. Aside from the 128GB (US$169) version, Transcend SDXC cards are also available in 64GB (US$79) capacity.
LensPen to Introduce New Sensor and Lens Cleaners at Photokina
At Photokina 2012, the LensPen Group will introduce five new lens, filter and display cleaning pens and an improved design on their sensor cleaning loupe. The new SensorKlear Loupe (pictured) features eight LEDs, which is double the four of the original model, and they’re powered by just two AAA batteries. Also, it’s easy to use; just remove the camera lens, place the Loupe on the aperture ring and turn on the light to inspect the sensor. Dry dust can be removed by the Hurricane Blower, while the SensorKlear II pen - which features an angled tip that can be inserted through the access window on the side of the loupe - allows users to “safely and easily” get rid of sticky particles.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Canon EOS 650D Photos
Ahead of our full review, here are 64 sample JPEG photos and a full HD movie taken with the new Canon EOS 650D DSLR camera (also known as the Rebel T4i), including the full ISO range.
The Canon EOS 650D is an 18 megapixel digital SLR camera offering touch-screen operation, a dual auto-focus system, 5fps burst shooting, ISO 100-25,600 and a 3 inch vari-angle LCD screen.
Samyang T-S 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC
The Samyang T-S 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC is a new tilt-shift lens for Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony. The optical formula comprises 16 lens elements arranged in 11 groups, including two aspherical lenses and two Extra-low Dispersion (ED) elements. Each optical component has been covered with multi-layered, anti-reflective UMC coatings, which are claimed to provide superb light transmission, high contrast and natural colours. The tilt-shift function in the Samyang T-S 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC allows for tilt and swing movements up to +/-8.5° and enables shift, rise and fall movements of up to +/-12 mm. The Tilt-Shift section may be rotated left by 90° (with 30° adjustment), while the lens mount may be rotated both ways by 90° (in 30° increments). The Samyang T-S 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC tilt-shift lens will be available later this year, with pricing to be confirmed.
Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 2/135 ZE/ZF.2
The Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 2/135 is a new manual-focus telephoto lens for Canon and Nikon SLR cameras. Based around Carl Zeiss’s proven “floating elements” design, the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 2/135 has a focal length of 135mm, maximum aperture of f/2, close-focus point of 80cm and a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:4. As with all other SLR lenses in the ZE and ZF.2 series, the Carl Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating as well as the sophisticated treatment of the elements’ edges with a deep-black special lacquer make the Apo Sonnar T* 2/135 resistant to reflections and stray light. When moving from the lens’ close-focus point to infinity, the focus ring turns by 268°, which enables ultra-precise focusing. The Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 2/135 will begin shipping in December 2012 at a recommended retail price of approximately €1.600+VAT or $2.000.
Zeiss at Photokina 2012
At the Photokina 2012 trade show, Carl Zeiss will present a full-frame manual-focus 55mm f/1.4 lens for SLR cameras (pictured), a sneak peek of a new family of auto focus lenses for CSCs, at least one fast lens with M bayonet mount, alongside the new Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 2/135 telephoto lens. The latest Nokia smartphone models with built-in Zeiss optics will again be on show at Carl Zeiss’s stand (hall 2.1, stand B011). Visitors will be able to try out all the products right on the spot, from high-quality SLR lenses, Sony cameras with Zeiss optics, Zeiss lenses for Sony system cameras to the new Nokia 808 PureView smart- phone with 41-megapixel camera sensor.
Ilford Introduces Room-Sized “Chrome-Camera”
Ilford has announced a major new creative photography project with the Chrome-Camera, a room-sized camera based at the Ilford site in Marly, Switzerland. The finished camera will measure 6m in length, 2.5m in height and 2.5m in width and features a lens specially sourced by German photographer Heino Heimann from Italy. The Chrome-Camera will be used to create prints using direct exposure on Ilfochrome (formerly known as Cibachrome) media, which produces images using a dye destruction positive-to-positive process. “My two great passions in photography are to use my art to push boundaries and to educate the younger generations,” Heimann says. “Therefore the Chrome-Camera project is a fantastic opportunity for me.”
Getty Images Grants for Editorial Photography Recipients Announced
Getty Images today announced the four photojournalists that have been selected to each receive a grant of US$20,000, as well as collaborative editorial support from Getty Images, to pursue their documentary photography projects. The winning photojournalists and corresponding projects are Bharat Choudhary from India for The Silence of Others, Kosuke Okahara from Japan for Fragments/Fukushima, Paolo Marchetti from Italy for FEVER – The Awakening of European Fascism and Sebastian Liste from Brazil for The Brazilian Far West. In addition, a grant of $20,000 has been presented in partnership with the Chris Hondros Fund, in remembrance of Getty Images’ photojournalist Chris Hondros, who was tragically killed last year in Libya.
X-Rite Announces Two Free September Webinars
X-Rite has announced its schedule of September 2012 webinars. The first online seminar, Landscape Image Edits and Enhancements in Lightroom 4 (Tuesday, September 11, 2012, 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM EDT),will see professional photographer Joe Brady explore both basic and advanced image editing techniques, while the second webinar, Step up to i1Pro 2 (Thursday, September 13, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT). will provide an in-depth look at the new X-Rite i1Pro 2 Upgrades.




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