Sony has released a new firmware update, version 3, for the 12 megapixel Sony A700 DSLR camera. Version 3 provides the following benefits:

Benefits over firmware version 2:
Resolves an issue where the Access Lamp remains lit and the camera stops responding when several pictures are taken in rapid succession.
Resolves an issue where powering the camera off while in “MR” mode may cause some registered settings to carry over to other shooting modes.

Additional benefits over other firmware versions:
Sharper images for pictures taken under low contrast conditions
Reduced noise for pictures taken at ISO 3200
Improved flash control for objects closer than 1 meter with non ADI controlled lenses

Website: Sony A700 Firmware Update v3 (Europe)

Website: Sony A700 Firmware Update v3 (USA)

Four by six-inch digital prints through HP’s Snapfish service now cost just 9 cents each. In addition, prices for pre-paid prints are as low as 8 cents each. Either option provides more than 50 percent savings compared to those of other photo-sharing sites. “The best value in photography just got better as we’re now offering our 45 million members prints for mere pennies,” said Ben Nelson, vice president and general manager, Snapfish by HP.

The Sony Cyber-shot S730 is a new entry-level digital camera with a 3x zoom lens, 7.2 megapixels and 2.4-inch LCD screen. A new multi-point autofocus mode ensures pin-sharp images, and selecting ‘High Sensitivity’ mode boosts sensitivity to ISO 1250. If you’re new to photography, the Sony S730 guides you with a handy display of functions, plus there’s on-screen advice to help you select the right settings. The Sony Cyber-shot S730 will be available throughout Europe from mid January 2008, price to be announced.

Olympus have released a new program which imports and displays RAW files in Windows Vista. The RAW codec works with the following Olympus cameras:

E-1, E-3*, E-300, E-330, E-400, E-410, E-500 , E-510 , E-10, E-20, C-70 ZOOM, C-5050ZOOM, C-5060 Wide Zoom, C-7070 Wide Zoom, C-8080 Wide Zoom, SP-310, SP-320, SP-350, SP-500UZ, SP-510UZ, SP-550UZ, SP-560UZ
*A part of the parameter does not apply to RAW developing of images.

Olympus RAW codec for Windows Vista

Ricoh have released the first firmware update, v1.12, for the GR Digital II, a new 10 megapixel compact digital camera with a 28mm, f/2.4 fixed focal length lens. Version 1.12 adds the following improvements:

- Improved an image quality in a small size (VGA etc.)
- Modified the following phenomena.
If you operate the ADJ lever in the macro mode, display switching speed may change.
If you operate the ADJ lever while compensating exposure, any keys will not work.
- When you exit a macro mode, the lens unit operating will become initialized in order to improve a focus accuracy.

Ricoh GR Digital II Firmware Update v1.12

Wishing you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2007 has been a fantastic year for PhotographyBLOG. The site has grown by a massive 65% year-on-year, now receiving over 570,000 unique visitors and 1.7 million page views every month.

Our regularly updated breaking News, in-depth product Reviews and popular Gallery and Forums community have all contributed to making PhotographyBLOG one of the largest online photographic websites around.

Thank you to everyone for visiting us during 2007.

Mark Goldstein
Editor, PhotographyBLOG

Canon have released a new firmware update for the 1Ds Mark III DSLR camera. Version 1.0.6 incorporates the following improvements and fixes.

1. Improves the reliability of communication with some CF cards.
2. Fixes a phenomenon involving color cast and vertical lines appearing in images.

Website: Canon 1Ds Mark III Firmware Update 1.0.6

Ricoh have released a new firmware update for the Ricoh 500g Wide, water, dust and shock resistant digital camera with a 28mm wide-angle 3x zoom lens. The rather cryptic improvement in Version 1.10 is “Modified the following phenomenon that it may be out of order in playback on rare occasions.”

Website: Ricoh Caplio 500G Wide Firmware Update 1.10 (Windows)
Website: Ricoh Caplio 500G Wide Firmware Update 1.10 (MAC)

Imaging Resource have just reviewed the new Kodak 5500 All-in-One printer.

“Kodak has indeed found a way to deliver the least expensive home photo printing available with the best print longevity to boot but on a device whose firmware needs a lot more work. Part of the cost trick is in limiting the inks to just three colors. But there’s a lot of impressive science behind that accomplishment, including the extremely small size of the pigments themselves. Another part is the three grades of paper, which are bar coded on the back to tell the printer what weight and surface it’s dealing with, a big boost in productivity.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Kodak 5500 Review

Dutch wildlife photography Jan Vermeer recently made an epic journey through the icy wastelands of Antartica, accompanied by Nikon’s brand new DSLR, the eagerly-anticipated D300. In our exclusive English report, Jan shares his experiences of using Nikon’s prosumer DSLR camera in such an inhospitable climate, photographing the Emperor Penguins of Snow Hill Island. A passionate advocate of the D2X camera, this was Jan’s first hands-on test of the new Nikon D300 - find out how it performed in one of the most beautiful and most hostile parts of our planet.

Website: Nikon D300 Field Test

Capture One 4, the next generation of Phase One’s RAW workflow software, is now available. A newly designed user interface offers high fidelity color and detail reproduction, plus new timesaving workflow features. “Capture One excels at RAW workflow,” said Jan H. Christiansen, marketing director for Phase One. “Today, it is no less an art to develop digital images than to process film in the darkroom. Ours is not an ‘end-to-end’ solution, but devoted to helping photographers achieve the highest quality from the images they have captured.” Capture One 4 is available now for $129 USD / 99 EUR. Existing Capture One customers can upgrade to Capture One 4 at no extra cost.

Kodak has won three prestigious Innovations 2008 Design and Engineering Awards for the 5300 All-in-One Printer and ZD710 and V1253 cameras. Chosen by a panel of independent industry designers, engineers and journalists, the CES awards recognise superior design and engineering among the year’s most technologically advanced products.

Production of Canon EOS SLR cameras has just passed the 30 million mark, with 10 million of those digital bodies. The achievement coincides with Canon’s 70th anniversary and the 20th anniversary of the launch of its EOS line of SLR cameras. In March of 1987, Canon’s 50th anniversary, the company introduced the EOS 650 AF SLR camera (pictured), the first model of the EOS series. One for the fact-fans out there - EOS is the name of the Greek goddess of the dawn.

PCMag have reviewed the Epson PictureMate Zoom 4”x6” compact photo printer.

“There are two ways of looking at the Epson PictureMate Zoom ($199.99 direct), the high-end model of the newest generation of PictureMate dedicated photo printers. On the one hand, it’s Epson’s faster, less expensive (by $100) replacement for last year’s Editors’ Choice PictureMate Flash. On the other, it’s the first cousin to this year’s Editors’ Choice PictureMate Dash. Either way, it comes with an impeccable pedigree. More important, it lives up to expectations, earning its own Editors’ Choice for high-end small-format dedicated photo printers.”

Website: PCMag - Epson PictureMate Zoom Review

The-Digital-Picture have just reviewed the new Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens.

“For the money, the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens performs very well optically. From 18mm through 35mm or so, center sharpness is reasonable wide open and reaches its optimal sharpness at f/5.6. Corners in this focal length range are relatively sharp. Wide open center-of-the-lens performance remains similar throughout the focal length range until the long end where this lens becomes soft. At 55mm, even f/8 is not as sharp as I’d like to see. “

Website: The-Digital-Picture - Canon EF-S 18-55mm Lens Review

A new version of the Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC Lens is compatible with the Nikon D40 and D40x DSLR cameras. Now featuring a built-in motor, the new Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC lens can auto-focus with all Nikon APS-C DSLR cameras and replaces the previous version for 2008. Price in the UK is £329.99.

A free Linux version of the award-winning LightZone photo-editing software has just been released. LightZone is the first and only application of its kind spanning all three major platforms. The new Linux version has been internally tested on such popular distributions as Ubuntu, Red Hat and Debian, with others planned. “The Linux release is our latest initiative to make LightZone available to as many users on as many operating systems as possible. Light Crafts serves a diverse Linux community consisting of many creative individuals who want the same high quality, robustness and powerful commercial photo-editing tools that are available for Windows and Mac users,” said Fabio Riccardi, CEO, Light Crafts.

All of the latest versions of onOne Software’s products are now compatible with Apple’s Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5) operating system. “We are pleased to be able to provide these updates to our users for Mac OS X Leopard so quickly,” said Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. “We appreciate the loyal support of our customers within the Mac community and we’re delighted that they will be able to benefit from the creative features of our imaging software products on the new Mac OS X Leopard operating system.”

The Creative Digital Darkroom is a new book that takes readers on an inspirational visual journey. “The camera and the digital darkroom are only some of the tools we use on our creative journey. Without the most important tool, however, the creative and curious mind, even the best camera and computer system are just lifeless jumbles of equipment and software code,” commented authors Katrin Eismann and Sean Duggan. Available online now, The Creative Digital Darkroom costs $49.99 US / £28.95 GBP.

An english language version of PhotoPerfect 2.85 photo editing software has just been released. “PhotoPerfect is a sophisticated tool designed specifically for photographers” said Ralf Hauser, CEO of Arcadia Software. “Equipped with every feature a photographer needs, the software offers a refined functionality to assist you in mastering your professional image-editing techniques, while achieving a new level of results.” The suggested retail price of PhotoPerfect is $79.99 and a free trial version is available.