Imagenomic has announced the release of Portraiture 2 for Adobe Lightroom. This latest Portraiture 2 product edition from Imagenomic delivers all of the productivity benefits of fast and accurate skin retouching to the Lightroom user community, and complements earlier introductions of Portraiture 2 for Adobe Photoshop and Apple Aperture. Portraiture 2 versions for Lightroom include native 32 and 64-bit support for Windows Vista, and support for the latest Mac Intel platforms and OSX releases for Apple computers. All of the familiar features and controls that have made Portraiture 2 popular with Photoshop and Aperture users are now available in the new Lightroom edition. Lightroom users also benefit from two Portraiture workflow usage modes, using both the Edit In and Export techniques for individual and batch image editing and processing. For new customers, the Lightroom edition is available for purchase at $199.95.  For registered users of Portraiture 2 for Photoshop or Aperture, the Lightroom edition is available at the discounted price of $99.95.

Bogen Imaging has announced the launch of eight compact, lightweight yet reliable Manfrotto ball heads. With a payload range that goes from 2kg to 8kg, The Manfrotto 492, 494, 496 and 498 all feature a simple plate and the Manfrotto 494 RC2, 496 RC2, 498 RC2 and 498 RC4 all feature a quick release plate. The new aluminium family of ball heads from Manfrotto incorporate a new innovative design with elliptic holes for reducing weight. In addition to the existing series, the new ball head family (except the small 492 head) features a completely new friction control which allows a safer and precise movement of the camera without totally releasing the camera. The professional heads of the family which include the Manfrotto 498, Manfrotto 498RC2 and Manfrotto 498RC4 have a panoramic independent movement with reference ring. The new Manfrotto ball heads will become available in September/October 2009, at RRPs ranging from £32.95 to £59.95, depending on model.

Following the successful launch last year of the M-Y family, a range of easy and compact tripods, Manfrotto has announced the new carbon version: the M-Y carbon tripod, 732CY. The payload of the M-Y Carbon (3,5Kg) is the highest among the M-Y range and includes an innovative new feature - the Expander, a new mechanical fixing of the first leg section to the collar that allows the M-Y carbon to be even more reliable and stable. This expanding system allows tightening the leg to the collar, always keeping a high rigidity and assuring a long lasting performance to the user. Together with lightness and portability: when folded the 732CY reaches a compact size of 42,5cm, with an opened height of 134,5cm and a total weight of less than 1kg. The new Manfrotto MY Carbon tripod is available from September 2009 for £169.95 RRP.

Sony has officially announced the 24.6-megapixel Sony A850 full-frame DSLR, and offers it at an attractive price. Ruggedly built for unflinching pro-style handling and performance, the Sony A850 shares the same 24.6 megapixel sensor and virtually all features of the flagship DSLR-A900, introduced last year. The main differences are in the continuous shooting speed, viewfinder coverage and price. The Sony A850 has a maximum burst rate of 3 frames per second (fps) versus the A900’s 5fps, and its viewfinder coverage is 98% against the older model’s 100%. The cost reductions associated with these modifications have made it possible for Sony to offer the Sony A850 at a price that is unprecedented among full-frame DSLRs. The body-only SRP is €1999, and the camera will also be offered in a kit with the new 28-75mm f/2.8 lens for €2688. Availability is slated for September (Sony A850 body) and November (lens / kit).

Update: We’ve just added 10 product shots taken at today’s UK press launch.

Along with the Sony A850 full-frame DSLR, Sony also introduced a new standard zoom with a constant f2.8 maximum aperture. Weighing in at 565 grams, the compact Sony SAL2875 28-75mm f2.8 SAM lens is among the lightest in its class. The new, bright standard zoom has 16 lens elements in 14 groups, offers a maximum magnification of 0.22x, and takes 67mm filters. The SAL2875 lens will be available in November for about $800.

Sony have just revealed the 12.3-megapixel Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 and 14.2-megapixel A550 digital single-lens reflex cameras with enhanced Live View, Auto HDR functionality and high-speed continuous shooting capabilities. At the heart of both cameras is a new, unique to Sony, Exmor CMOS sensor that ensures crisp low-noise images, according to the manufacturer. Sustained shooting speeds of up to 4 frames per second (fps) can be achieved in Live View Mode, rising to 5 fps with the optical viewfinder. The new Speed Priority mode on the Sony A550 model raises the bar further still, shooting at 7 fps (with AF and AE setting maintained from the first frame ). Creative options are broadened by the new Auto HDR mode that captures a huge range of shadow and highlight detail in landscapes, interiors and other scenes. The Sony A500 and A550 use powerful algorithms to combine and optimise two successive frames in only 2 seconds, correcting any misalignment between frames when shooting handheld, which is Sony’s unique technology. The result is a single HDR image emulating the huge natural tonal range of human vision – with no PC or tripod needed. The Quick AF Live View of the A3x0 series has been carried over, and is joined by a new Manual Focus Check Live View mode, which assists with fine-tuning your composition and focus. The live image offers 100% field coverage, assisted by framing grid lines for precise composition. There’s also a selectable 7x/14x zoom function for a close-up confirmation of focus. The Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 and DSLR-A550 will be available from the end of October 2009 for €699/$750 and €849/$950, respectively (RRP, body only).

Update: We’ve just added 29 product shots taken at today’s UK press launch.

Sony has announced the availability of the Sony SAL30M28 DT 30mm f2.8 Macro SAM, a new macro lens intended for use on Sony’s cropped-sensor DSLRs. With an imaging circle designed to cover sensors of 16x24mm or smaller, this lens is not meant to be used on the Sony A850 or A900 full-frame cameras (or any of Minolta’s film SLRs), but is a perfect match for all other Sony DSLRs. The Sony DT 30mm f2.8 Macro lens offers 1:1 magnification at a subject-to-sensor distance of 13cm, and has a Smooth Autofocus Motor on board (hence the SAM abbreviation in the name). According to Sony, the lens will become available in October for about $200.

Update: We’ve just added 4 product shots taken at today’s UK press launch.

Animoto users will now have the ability to easily incorporate video clips alongside their photos to create “stunning productions rivaling TV and film”. More than 3 million people currently use Animoto to automatically create dynamic, personalised videos from their own photos, music and text, and then download them or share them online through email, blogs, YouTube, Twitter, social networks, and mobile devices. Now, video clips taken straight from cameras and phones ranging from the Flip camera and iPhone 3GS to the Canon 5D Mark II and Nikon D700 can be woven together to make a unique, personalised movie. Incorporating video clips into Animoto videos is as easy as uploading a video clip (up to 200MB) and choosing sections to spotlight. Paying users can use 10-second spotlights while free users are limited to half that. There is no limit to the number of video clips that can be used in an Animoto video.

Photogra and myPhotopipe have announced a multi-year partnership for the provision of certain new online digital imaging services via an ordering platform developed by Photogra.com. Per the terms of the agreement, myPhotopipe.com has the exclusive use of certain new online toolsets developed by Photogra.com. “It makes it less confusing, more accurate, and easier to order the photos, prints or other products customers want,” stated Darren Schiff, Chief Operating Officer of myPhotopipe.com, Inc.

Website: myPhotopipe

Kodak’s booth at Print 09 will be streaming with exhibits, presentations and activities unlike any previously seen at a trade show, the company says. The Pipeline of Innovation serves as the centerpiece of Kodak’s booth. This 24-foot-long digital display will feature a continuous stream of visual images representing innovative technology and solutions from Kodak. Visitors can interact with the display to learn more about what interests them. Another highlight at Kodak’s booth will be the K-Zone, a live talk show set where dynamic discussions with industry experts, print service providers, and marketing professionals will take place daily throughout the show. The K-Zone kicks off on Friday, Sept. 11, at 11:00 a.m. CST with a panel discussion, “What’s Print Got to Do with It,” featuring Antonio M. Perez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Eastman Kodak Company.

Gigatribe’s new and encrypted ‘Back to School’ features provide secure access to schools for sharing educational videos, photos & documents. In addition, GigaTribe recently announced its new DivX video streaming feature, which students can use to instantly stream DivX videos online. With the new DivX video feature, there’s no waiting, so users can view videos while they are still being transferred, even if they are not completely downloaded yet. Entire personal video libraries can be remotely accessed through the GigaTribe secure “Private Area” without delay and watched when traveling or away from their home, dorm, or school, with only the need of a web browser.

Kubota Image Tools announced today a new creative photography workshop – Studio Success, from K to V – taking place at the Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont, October 26 – 27, 2009. Attendees will join professional photographers Kevin Kubota and Vicki and Jed Taufer for this intense 2-day workshop designed to help professional photographers fine-tune their creative and business skills to find success during tough economic times. Cost to those registering before September 15, 2009 is $399, while attendees registering after that date should expect to pay $449.

The Leaf AFi looks set to be one of the first victims of the latest turmoil in the medium format camera industry - unless a new initiative can persuade Phase One to keep it alive. A recent petition, which you can read in its entirety at SaveTheLeafAFi.com, states, “We the undersigned would like to encourage Phase One to consider taking steps towards keeping the Leaf Afi-II camera alive and a viable option to professional photographers everywhere.” The Leaf AFi-II is indeed a remarkable system camera, offering flash synchronisation right up to 1/1000 of a second, an ingenious adjustable control grip, an option to switch between landscape and portrait orientation simply by turning the camera back etc. But will this be enough for Phase One to keep it alive?

Website: Save The Leaf AFi

Via photoscala

Datacolor has introduced its new Spyder3Studio SR calibration system, a complete colour calibration solution that works at the capture, process and print stages of the photographic proces. Designed with a strong understanding of the needs of creatives and photographers, Datacolor’s Spyder3Studio SR offers an uncompromised calibration solution for each stage of the photographic process (capturing, processing and printing) to help create, view, and share photographs as they were envisioned. The Spyder3Studio SR workflow solution includes the new SpyderCube RAW calibration device that eliminates any need for traditional 18% gray cards; the Spyder3Elite monitor calibration tool and the new Spyder3Print SR (Strip Reader) which offers significant advances in creating ICC printer profiles. Datacolor’s new Spyder3Studio SR is currently available at retail outlets and photo specialty dealers across the US, with a suggested list price of $599.00.

RCP-Technik GmbH has announced three new Rollei branded photo / slide scanners. The first photo scanner from Rollei, the P-S 100 (pictured), has been designed to digitise photographic prints of popular sizes like 9x13cm, 10x15cm (4x6”) and 13x18cm (5x7”). The Rollei DF-S 110 and DF-S 100 models are slide scanners, whose claim to fame is that they can digitise mounted 35mm slides very quickly. All of these scanners appear to have a 5-megapixel CMOS type area-array sensor inside, which is responsible for the fast scan speeds. The P-S 100 and the DF-S 110 can also output interpolated 5184x3360-pixel scans. These two models cost €149.95, while the Rollei DF-S 100 will be available for €129.95 RRP.

The Sanyo Xacti DMX-CG11 is a new, lightweight HD camcorder with 5x optical zoom. The Xacti CG11 can record videos at a resolution of 1280x720 pixels, and store them in MPEG4 format, with H.264 compression available. Owing to its high-resolution CMOS sensor, it can also capture 10-megapixel stills. The Sanyo Xacti CG11 boasts a 285° rotating 3.0-inch widescreen LCD for easy composition, a 1cm super macro feature and onboard editing functions. The new Xacti comes in a variety of colours, but seems to be targeted at the Japanese market only,

Website: Sanyo Xacti DMX-CG11 Product Sheet

Via Engadget

“Camera Raw 101: Better Photos with Photoshop, Elements, and Lightroom” is a new book by digital photography expert and PhotographyBLOG contributor Jon Canfield. In Camera RAW 101, Jon explains everything you need to know to make the most of RAW captures using the newest versions of Photoshop, Elements, and Lightroom. You’ll find out how to get the most detail from your RAW files – whether it’s correcting shadows and highlights, fixing white balance, or getting rid of noise. You’ll learn how to convert RAW images using both basic and advanced techniques, as well as how to download and organise the images, and put the finishing touches on them after conversion. Packed with beautiful images, solid instruction, and working examples – including screen grabs and before-and-after contrasts that show each step – this is a must-have for any serious amateur photographer who wants to take better, more creative photographs. The book has a list price of $24.99, but it is currently available from Amazon for $16.49.

Website: Camera Raw 101 on Amazon

Photodex announces the availability of Albums & Collages, the all-new ProShow MediaSource title for enhancing family, portrait and vacation slide shows. Designed to work with Photodex’s award winning ProShow Gold and ProShow Producer (pictured) slide show authoring tools, ProShow MediaSource allegedly provides everything needed to create a professional-looking slide show. Using the new Albums & Collages collection, ordinary slide shows are transformed into fun craft projects with everything from photo borders and show templates to embellishments and audio tracks. All content is royalty-free and comes in both 16:9 and 4:3 sizes for widescreen and normal size slide shows. Albums & Collages can be purchased for $24.95 on the Photodex website. All additional titles are $24.95 each.

Website: Jon Canfield’s Photodex ProShow: Visual QuickStart Guide on Amazon