It seems that the new professional level Canon EF 24-105mm F/4L IS lens has run into problems, resulting in it being withdrawn from sale in Japan. DIWA member Digit.no has more details and a sample shot showing the unwanted flare effects that occur in certain situations. Meanwhile, a thread over on Fred Miranda’s forums contains more examples/discussion of the problem.

Website: Digit.no

Website: Fred Miranda

Light Crafts Press Release

New Photo Editing and Image Processing Software Now Available from Light Crafts; LightZone is the Most Significant Advance in Digital Photo Editing in More Than a Decade

PALO ALTO, Calif. & NEW YORK—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Oct. 20, 2005—Light Crafts, Inc. today announced availability of LightZone, a breakthrough photo editing software tool designed especially for professional and avid photographers. LightZone provides a complete photo editing tool that significantly reduces the time photographers spend after a shoot producing high quality photographs. LightZone offers photographers an advanced RAW editing experience that is easy to use while delivering a fast workflow that produces professional results.

Designed and built from the ground up for professionals, LightZone is available as a free 30-day trial at www.lightcrafts.com. LightZone is immediately available for Macintosh users and in November for Windows users.

LightZone is being demonstrated at PhotoPlus Expo in booth 1174, October 20-22, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, in New York, NY.

Cameratown is covering PhotoPlusExpo 2005 with a dedicated section for expo news, product releases, booth numbers, and photographs from the show floor. Visit their PhotoPlusExpo 2005 coverage today.

Website: Cameratown

BIOS have reviewed the Lexmark P450, a 4x6 inch photo printer with a unique feature, a built-in CD burner.

“Lexmark’s P450 is the first-ever inkjet photo printer with a built-in CD burner. The innovative P450 makes it easy to print 6x4-inch images directly from a memory card, Bluetooth-enable handheld device, digital camera (PictBridge), CD-ROM, or computer. You can even burn images from a memory card directly to a CD-R without your computer, a neat feature for less technical users who don’t want to get involved with the complexities and cost of CD authoring. The downside is that the P450’s print quality is disappointing, it’s slow, and you’re paying a premium price for the built-in CD recorder. There are better and cheaper alternatives if you’re not bothered about being able to burn images to a disc without your computer.”

Website: BIOS - Lexmark P450 Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Lexmark P450

Write a Review of the PLexmark P450

DPNow have just reviewed the book “Commercial Photoshop Retouching In The Studio” from O’Reilly.

“Commercial Photoshop Retouching In The Studio is aimed squarely at people who are at home with Adobe Photoshop. You don’t need the very latest version to make use of the book; most of its examples and tutorials will work with Photoshop 7.0 or even earlier releases. Honiball doesn’t assume you are a Photoshop or print press expert, either and carefully explains key concepts along the way. Besides covering topics that help you to make photos look better from a basic point of view, Honiball also covers areas involving the integration of subjects with different backgrounds and creating natural looking lighting effects. To achieve composite results, masking and extraction are covered in detail. There is also plenty of information concerning the use of Photoshop with CMYK images and how to optimise these for print press reproduction, including sections on newsprint and packaging materials.”

Website: DPNow - Commercial Photoshop Retouching In The Studio Review

Hungarian website Index Digicam have reviewed the Canon PowerShot A620, which features a 7.1 megapixel sensor, 2 inch LCD screen and 4x optical zoom lens equivalent to 35–140 mm focal length.

Website: Index Digicam - Canon PowerShot A620 Review

Website: Read my Canon Powershot A620 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

A month after it was first announced by Epson Japan, the new P-4000 portable storage device has now been introduced by Epson America.

Epson USA Press Release

The Epson® P-4000 Multimedia Storage Viewer Offers 80GB Hard Drive for Storing, Sharing and Viewing Thousands of Photos

Latest Multimedia Storage Viewer from Epson Provides High Capacity Hard Drive and Beautiful 3.8’’ LCD with Epson Photo Fine™ Technology for Brilliant Color and Incredible Detail

NEW YORK, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/—Epson is introducing its newest product in the Multimedia Storage Viewer category, the Epson P-4000. Epson is continuing to develop products that meet the changing needs of today’s digital photographer. The Epson P-4000 Multimedia Storage Viewer has many of the same features and strengths of the popular Epson P-2000, but now offers double the hard drive capacity with 80GB* for storing and sharing an even larger number of photos along with video and music files.

The Epson P-4000 is the perfect portable companion to any digital camera with its built-in card slots, high storage capacity and Epson’s exclusive and highly-regarded large 3.8” LCD with Epson Photo Fine technology for the ultimate in color, detail and clarity.

Kodak Press Release

Kodak Announces Highest Resolution Image Sensors for Professional Photography

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 20—Eastman Kodak Company has once again set the quality standard for digital imaging with new high-resolution image sensors that allow commercial, studio, and other professional photographers to capture digital images with the most life-like detail possible. These new products strengthen Kodak’s position as a leading image sensor supplier to a wide variety of markets, and reinforce strategic product and partnership announcements made earlier this year that target mass-market consumer applications.

Already the world’s leading supplier of image sensors for medium-format professional photography, Kodak is expanding its product line with the introduction of the world’s highest-resolution sensors for professional photography. The KODAK KAF-39000 Image Sensor, featuring 39 million pixels, and the KODAK KAF-31600 Image Sensor, with 31.6 million pixels, offer professional camera and camera back manufacturers resolution and image detail that was once unimaginable for digital cameras, allowing photographers to experience a new level of image quality for portrait, wedding, landscape, fashion, studio, and commercial photography. These new CCD image sensors have already been selected for use by Phase One A/S for use in their upcoming P45 and P30 digital camera backs.

DxO Labs Press Release

A gallery of images by professional photographers and rising stars from around the world linked by a passion for photographic excellence.
DxO Optics Pro image enhancement software is an indispensable part of their workflow.

Paris, France October 20, 2005 – DxO Labs today announced its new photography gallery, DxO Image Masters, showcasing the work of professional photographers and rising stars from around the world who integrate DxO Optics Pro into their workflow.

“DxO Image Masters is a dynamic venue in which to experience the results—and advantages—of DxO Optics Pro digital image enhancement software,” said Luc Marin, Vice President of the Photography Business at DxO Labs.

Extensis Press Release

Extensis Portfolio 8 Puts Creative Workgroup Assets at User’s Fingertips - New functionality means less time searching for files and more ways to organise and share across workgroups.

Northampton – Thursday 20th October, 2005 — Extensis, a division of Celartem, Inc., today announced Portfolio 8, a major advance in its digital asset management (DAM) solution. The new version of Portfolio provides industrial-strength workflow features to organise and route digital files utilising visual catalogs and embedded metadata, making it fast and easy to find and share valuable branding collateral within the asset creation workgroups and externally with global partners.  The Portfolio 8 product family includes a standalone version, Client/Server solution; as well as NetPublish and SQL Connect Modules.

”The most competitive organisations are looking for the best way to use technology to improve their business processes and their bottom line. This new version of Portfolio is the ultimate solution for organising, finding and distributing a company’s critically important brand assets,” said Dan Harlacher, Portfolio product manager for Extensis. “It’s our cure for the common quagmire of creative assets and image management that companies are facing every day. Plus you can do it in less time and with less money than you might think; it’s a software solution trusted by IT and approved by creatives and brand professionals.”

Breeze Systems Press Release

DSLR Remote Pro v1.1 improves exposure control and adds support for new cameras

20th October, 2005 : Breeze Systems today released DSLR Remote Pro v1.1. Photographers can now use Breeze Systems’ highly regarded software to control Canon EOS 5D, 350D/Rebel XT, 20D, EOS-1D Mark II and EOS-1Ds Mark II cameras as well as the 10D, 300D/Rebel, EOS-1D and EOS-1Ds models.

Improve exposure control in tricky lighting conditions with DSLR Remote Pro’s unique ability to auto bracket up to 15 images with Canon DSLR cameras by varying either the shutter speed or the aperture. This greatly simplifies the taking of sequences of images which can then be combined to make High Dynamic Range (HDR) images in your image editor. This technique is particularly effective when taking interior shots or product shots without the need for sophisticated lighting.

View color managed previews where color accuracy is critical. Previews may also be sharpened using the highly acclaimed HQ sharpening routines used in BreezeBrowser Pro.

Apple Press Release

First All-in-One Post Production Tool for Photographers

CUPERTINO, Calif., Oct. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/—Apple(R) today introduced Aperture, the first all-in-one post production tool that provides everything photographers need after the shoot. Aperture offers an advanced and incredibly fast RAW workflow that makes working with a camera’s RAW images as easy as JPEG. Built from the ground up for pros, Aperture features powerful compare and select tools, nondestructive image processing, color managed printing and custom web and book publishing.

“Aperture is to professional photography what Final Cut Pro is to filmmaking,” said Rob Schoeben, Apple’s vice president of Applications Marketing. “Finally, an innovative post production tool that revolutionizes the pro photo workflow from compare and select to retouching to output.”

The Sanyo Xacti VPC-C6 is announced by Sanyo Japan today. The Sanyo VPC-C6 is another update of the long line of Sanyo’s hybrid still/moving digital cameras. Available in 3 colours, the Sanyo Xacti VPC-C6 features smooth movie playback of 60fps from video recorded at 30fps. You can also take a 6 megapixel photo during MPEG-4 video recording. The Sanyo VPC-C6 has a larger 2 inch LCD screen with 210,000 pixels and offers a new 5x optical zoom lens equivalent to 38mm-190mm. The Sanyo Xacti VPC-C6 will cost 75,600 Yen ($725) and be available in November.

Website: Sanyo Japan - Sanyo Xacti DMX-C6

Website: Sanyo Japan - Sanyo Digital Cameras

Website: Slrworld - Sanyo Xacti DMX-C6

The Sanyo Xacti VPC-C40 is announced by Sanyo Japan today. The 4 megapixel Sanyo VPC-C40 is another update of the long line of Sanyo’s hybrid still/moving digital cameras. Available in silver, the Sanyo Xacti VPC-C40 features smooth movie playback of 60fps from video recorded at 30fps. You can also take a 4 megapixel photo during MPEG-4 video recording. The Sanyo VPC-C40 has a 1.8 inch LCD screen and offers a new 5.8x optical zoom lens.

Website: Sanyo Japan - Sanyo Xacti VPC-C40

iView Multimedia Press Release

iView’s New MediaPro Speeds Creatives’ Workflows

iView Multimedia today announced a new version of iView MediaPro, the award-winning, cross-platform digital asset management application. Designed for photographers and other creative professionals, MediaPro 3.0 delivers the world’s most flexible and powerful professional workflow management solution.

Like earlier versions, MediaPro 3.0 helps users organize and manage a high volume and wide variety of digital files by creating customized, centralized and searchable catalogs.

Now, new features and enhancements simplify and speed up specific workflow tasks, including: importing, organizing, annotating, searching, distributing and archiving valuable digital assets.

Adobe Press Release

Adobe Updates DNG Converter and Adds New `Camera Raw’ Plug-in for 14 New Cameras

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Oct. 20, 2005 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced that its Digital Negative Specification (DNG) - an industry-wide initiative to create one unified format for archiving raw digital images - is continuing to win support from camera manufacturers and software makers. Ricoh Co. is the latest camera manufacturer to support DNG, with its new GR digital camera. By providing DNG support directly in its products, Ricoh joins respected camera manufacturers Hasselblad and Leica, along with a wide range of software manufacturers such as Apple, Extensis, iView and ULead.

“DNG addresses a critical need in the market to preserve digital images in their purest form while also simplifying the raw workflow for photographers,” said Kazuhiro Yuasa, general manager of the Image Capturing Solution Division at Ricoh. “The Ricoh GR Digital represents the latest advancements in high resolution compact cameras, and by incorporating support for DNG we’re giving our customers the flexibility and control they require to do their best work.”

InfoTrends/CAP Ventures Press Release

InfoTrends/CAP Ventures’ Studies Indicate Dramatic Changes in Workflow for the Professional Photographer

(Weymouth, MA) October, 19 2005… Recent InfoTrends/CAP Ventures surveys of the professional photography market show an industry in transition. The switch to digital has already transpired, with nearly 80% of pros owning a digital SLR and 52% planning to purchase a new one within a year. The immediacy and flexibility of the digital format has clearly made an impact. The new challenge for pro photographers is to find a way to leverage new technologies, software, and services to grow their businesses.

Survey results show that professional photographers across all specialties are taking a large number of shots – 482 per week on average for digital camera users. The vast majority of these images are saved to a computer, and nearly 65% of the photos taken are edited. Many photographers are using RAW conversion and color management software, and a significant percentage of photos are being published to the Web.

Yamaha Corporation and Fuji Photo Film Press Release

FUJIFILM AND YAMAHA INTRODUCE LABELFLASH™ TECHNOLOGY

October 19, 2005 – Yamaha Corporation and Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. today announced the Labelflash™ technology, a new technology that advances the ability to burn high quality images directly into a specialized dye layer on the disc labeling side using laser for data recording. This technology allows consumers to personalize and customize their DVDs with photos, text and graphics, replacing traditional sticker and marker labeling.

Forbes.com is reporting that AgfaPhoto is set to go out of business with the loss of 2,400 jobs following the failure to find a buyer. Britain’s Photo-Me International PLC were in talks to take over the ailing company, but creditors rejected the offer. AgfaPhoto posted sales of US$900 million last year.

Website: Forbes.com - AgfaPhoto Likely to Be Out of Business

Website: AgfaPhoto

Canon USA Press Release

From Capture to Output — Canon Extends Legacy of Photographic Innovation and Education to Create a Pilot Expert Image and Printing Panel

NEW YORK, October 19, 2005 — Once again paving the way to inspire and mentor future generations of creative photographers and graphic artists, Canon U.S.A. today introduced the beginnings of a new education and expert forum — the Canon “Print Masters” program. Introduced as a pilot program to leverage Canon’s print technologies, Canon Print Masters will work to educate and broaden the awareness of digital print technology. Through the collective experience of the world’s most distinguished imaging, photography and graphic arts professionals, this new program provides Canon Print Masters with imaging equipment, accessories and consumables from Canon’s award-wining imagePROGRAF line of large format printers.