Friday, July 03, 2009

Hasselblad have introduced the Hasselblad CFV-39, a 39-megapixel digital back for their classic V system cameras. “Quickly and easily, the Hasselblad CFV-39 can transform a V System film camera into a high-performance digital camera,” says product manager Peter Stig. All V System cameras operate cable-free. The 202 FA, 203 FE, and 205 FCC are fully supported. Other 200 and 2000 series models can be used with C-type lenses only. There are two selectable image formats: square (29 megapixel, 5412x5412) and rectangular (39 megapixel, 5412x7212 pixels). The sensor has double the area of a full-frame 35mm DSLR imager, and ISO speeds range from 50 to 800.

Website: Hasselblad CFV-39

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The 5 lucky winners of our fantastic June 2009 Newsletter contest have been randomly selected from the PhotographyBLOG Newsletter subscriber list.

Craig Shave, Phil Sproston, Bill Durr, Will Daniel and Nicky Cockburn each win a copy of the book “Garden Photographer of the Year Collection 01”, kindly provided by International Garden Photographer of the Year.

BenVista have announced the new version of their specialised digital image enlargement software: PhotoZoom Pro 3. Over the past ten years, the BenVista PhotoZoom series has competed at the highest level of image enlarging, thanks to its patentend S-Spline technology. With PhotoZoom Pro 3, BenVista introduces the latest generation of their technology, called S-Spline Max. Furthermore, multi-processor support is added to increase speed, and PhotoZoom Pro 3 can be used not only as a standalone application, but also as an Adobe Photoshop compatible Automation plug-in and Export plug-in. Designed for both Mac and Windows platforms, PhotoZoom Pro 3 is available as of today. Free demo versions of PhotoZoom Pro 3, for both Mac and Windows platforms, can be downloaded directly from the BenVista website.

Website: BenVista

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LaserSoft Imaging has announced the new SilverFast 6.6.1, billed as “the first software in the world to perfectly capture raw data from photographs and slides”. To effectively, quickly and thoroughly protect valuable memories against decay and destruction, the Kiel-based software company has developed a format that contains not only all image information, but also the dust and scratch information derived from the scanner’s infrared channel (provided it has one): the 64-bit HDRi format. The new 64-bit HDRi format by LaserSoft Imaging registers all the information of the original in its entirety while simultaneously embedding all the correction information in the image file. Instead of directly guiding the scanner, SilverFast HDRi enables the user to read the raw data at maximum speed and process it as though he had direct access to scanner images, LaserSoft claims. Note that because the HDRi feature needs information from the infrared channel of the scanner, it is necessary to make sure that iSRD is available and supported for your scanner model.

Website: SilverFast

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Brushed Pixel Software has released Catapult, a plugin for Apple’s Aperture photo management software that allows Aperture users to integrate Adobe Camera Raw or Nikon Capture into their RAW workflows. Catapult automates the process of exporting RAW files for editing and importing converted JPEG or TIFF files, while stacking the versions together to keep projects organised. To support non-destructive editing, when importing Catapult can archive the associated XMP sidecar file produced by Adobe Camera Raw, or a settings file exported from Nikon Capture. Catapult is now available for $49 CAD, and a trial version can be downloaded from Brushed Pixel’s website.

Website: Brushed Pixel

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Thursday, July 02, 2009

Picmeta Systems have released version 5.2 of their Picture Information Extractor, which includes numerous new features such as batch editing of IPTC metadata. The new PIE 5.2 is allegedly the smallest photo browser and viewer available that integrates an editor for IPTC data with batch editing capabilities. Editing of metadata now works with all RAW formats. Many formats allow EXIF and IPTC metadata to be written directly into the file, thus no external database or sidecar file is required. The EXIFcare technology ensures that all information contained in the file is maintained. A free evaluation version of PIE 5.2 can be downloaded from the Picmeta Website. The software runs on Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP and Vista. The full version costs US$ 35. Licensed users are entitled to lifetime free updates.

Website Picture Information Extractor

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Bogen Imaging has just announced a free webinar titled “Adventure Sports Photography: Round Table with Adventure Photographer Michael Clark.” This webinar will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT, on Friday, July 17th. Topics for discussion include adventure photography fundamentals, artificial lighting, photo equipment, outdoor gear and how to shoot rock climbing, mountain biking and whitewater kayaking. Webinar participants will have access to a number of exclusive benefits, including one‑on‑one interaction with the guest speaker, and will be automatically entered in a chance to win one of three Gitzo Traveler Series 2 Carbon Fibre 6X Monopods. To register for the free Bogen Café webinar and for additional information, please visit http://www.bogenimaging.us/webinar/

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California Sunbounce has announced the Sun-Mover pop-up reflector, which uses their Perma-Tense technology for etra permanent tension. The original design, created by John Russell Ritson in 1977, has been “dramatically improved” by the California Sunbounce design team. „Perma-Tense“ is the new name for the synergy effect of the California Sunbounce frames and the elastic material, which keeps the reflective screen under permanent tension when in use. The Sunbounce oval Perma-Tense design has a screen just small enough to hinder the frame form reverting to this relaxed and comfortable position, keeping it alert and extremely tense. The Sun-Mover is available at California Sunbounce and its dealers. Suggested retail price for the original Sunbounce silver/white screen is €79. The zebra/white screen (pictured) costs €89.

Website: California Sunbounce

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Chris Golson’s Photography Adventures have announced a new photo workshop set in the San Francisco Bay Area that will include a photo shoot aboard a Zeppelin in flight. This three day luxury immersion programme takes place September 27 - 30 in Half Moon Bay, a small coastal community located 24 miles south of San Francisco. Leading the three-day shoot will be acclaimed Dutch photographer Dirk Karsten and noted Silicon Valley technologist and photographer Chris Golson. The workshop is designed to deepen the practical skills and artistic groundings of the aspiring beginner and intermediate photographer, and will include a mix of interactive classroom seminars and outdoor photo shoots. Foremost among the assignments will be the airborne safari from a Zeppelin. This luxury comes at a price though: the course fee is $3,600 per person.

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Mvix has announced the worldwide launch of the Mvix Ultio, a hard-disk based media centre capable of HD digital media playback with video output as high as 1080p. Ultio’s high-end video processing not only plays Blu-Ray quality video, it allows to store entire Hi-Definition media on its internal hard drive, plug it into a TV via HDMI and enjoy movies, digital music and family photos on large LCD or Plasma. It is also capable of playing AVCHD format (normally used in camcorder footage but also offered by new digital cameras such as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1). Other supported codecs and formats include, but are not limited to, H.264, MKV, Dixv HD, MOV, VC-1 and FLV. Mvix Ultio is being launched in 2 flavours: the regular version (without a HDD) is priced at $169, whereas the premium version (bundled with a 1TB hard drive) will be available at $259.

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