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The Canon EOS R50 is a super-compact mirrorless camera with an APS-C crop sensor that can shoot at 15fps and record 4K/30p video. Can the R50 compete with the likes of the Fujifilm X-S10, Nikon Z30 and Sony ZV-E10? Find out now by reading our in-depth Canon R50 review with full-size sample photos and videos.
The Canon EOS R10 is a tiny new mirrorless camera with an APS-C sensor that can shoot at up to 23fps and record 4K/60p video. Can the R10 compete with the likes of the Fujifilm X-S10, Nikon Z50 and Sony A6400? Find out now by reading our in-depth Canon R10 review...
Canon is back in the APS-C game with the much-anticipated launch of the EOS R7, a very capable prosumer camera with a clear focus on speed. Billed as the mirrorless successor to the much loved EOS 7D Mark II DSLR, does the new R7 have what it takes to compete against the likes of Fujifilm and Sony? Find out now by reading our in-depth Canon R7 review...
The new Ricoh GR IIIx large-sensor compact camera has a 40mm F2.8 equivalent lens and an updated GR Engine 6 image processor.
Other than those two changes, the GR IIIx is otherwise identical to the GR III, which has a wider-angle 28mm lens.
There are also a number of new accessories to go with the the GRIIIx, including a tele conversion lens and external optical viewfinder.
The brand new Lumix S 20-60mm F3.5-5.6 is the smallest and lightest lens available for Panasonic's range of full-frame mirrorless cameras, the S1, S1R and S1H. Is this affordable all-purpose zoom perfect for both photography and video? Find out now by reading our in-depth Panasonic Lumix S 20-60mm F3.5-5.6 review...
The Leica SL2 is a brand new full-frame mirrorless camera for professional stills photographers and videographers.
It offers a 47 megapixel full-frame sensor, Maestro III processor, 20fps burst shooting, 4K/60p video recording, in-body image stabilisation, improved ergonomics, a more comfortable grip, simplified three-button control layout, Object Detection AF, electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 5.76 megapixels, 3.2-inch LCD screen with 2.1 megapixels, and a 187 megapixel multishot mode.
The Leica SL2 will be available from 21st November 2019 priced at £5,300 / $5,995 body only.
After a lot of rumors, the long-awaited Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III has finally been officially announced.
If you don't know already, this is an update of the popular E-M5 Mark II camera from 2015. The new Mark III version offers a 20.4 megapixel Live MOS sensor, TruePic VIII image processor, in-body 5-axis image stabilization system, weather-proofing, 121-point all cross-type on-chip phase detection autofocus system, 10fps burst shooting, 4K 30P high-definition video recording, 2.36 million-dot OLED viewfinder, and USB charging.
In the UK the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III will be available from mid November in silver or black as body only priced at £1099.99 and in different kit versions as e.g. with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40 F2.8 PRO lens at £1699.99 or with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200 F3.5-6.3 lens at £1599.99 EUR.
Olympus are also offering pre order customers a £100 trade in and free BLS-50 battery to launch the OM-D E-M5 Mark III valid on pre orders to 15 November 2019.
In the US and Canada, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III will be available in both black and silver in late November. The camera body only will have a suggested retail price of $1,199.99 USD and $1,499.99 CAD and the camera body with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm F4.0-5.6 II lens will have a suggested retail price of $1,799.99 USD and $2,249.99 CAD.
2019 is Olympus' official Centenary year (Congratulations!), and following the launch of the E-M1X camera back in the Spring, the company are now reportedly gearing up for the launch of a much more affordable successor to the popular OM-D E-M5 Mark II (pictured), somewhat predictably called the OM-D E-M5 Mark III. Read on for everything that we know so far...
Update 1: Internet giant Amazon has now confirmed the price and launch date of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III - it will apparently cost £1,355.60 and be available on November 18th 2019. It will feature re-engineered 5-axis image stabilisation for handheld shooting, a new OLED electronic viewfinder, and be weather-resistant. Amazon have predictably pulled the leaked product page...
Update 2: The full specifications and US price for the E-M5 Mark III have now been leaked by 4/3rumors.
X-Rite has extended its ColorChecker family with new sizes including Nano, Mini, XL and MEGA. With a range of new sizes for both the ColorChecker Classic and ColorChecker Video targets, now there is a ColorChecker to help every photographer and filmmaker tell their story, no matter the size of their shoot.
The price, specs and availability of the Fujifilm GFX 100 medium format mirrorless camera have been revealed. As the name suggests, the GFX100 has a 100 megapixel back illuminated sensor sensor (102 megapixels to be precise) with fast and accurate AF phase detection, 4K/30p video recording and five-axis image stabilisation of up to 5.5 stops, all 'world’s first' features.
The Fujifilm GFX 100 will be available from the end of June 2019 priced at £9,999 in the UK and $9,999 in the USA.
The Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S is a new ultra-wide-angle zoom lens for the Nikon Z 7 and Z 6 full-frame mirrorless cameras. This compact, lightweight lens features a retractable weather-proof design with a flat front element that allows for the use of 82mm filters. Read our in-depth Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S review now...
ON1 Photo RAW 2019, an all-new photo editing experience and a major upgrade to ON1 Photo RAW, is now available. Notable new features include a new non-destructive workflow for layers, auto-alignment of layers, focus stacking, a new portrait tab, a new text tool, new digital asset management updates and more.
ON1 Photo RAW 2019 is available today for $99.99. Previous owners of any ON1 product can upgrade for $79.99. A 30-day free trial of ON1 Photo RAW 2019 is also available for download from the ON1 website.
Flickr has announced several updates to both its Free and Pro accounts, marking a new step forward for Flickr and the future of photography.
The new Apple iPad Pro features an all-screen design, next-generation performance, Face ID integration, A12X Bionic chip, new USB-C connector, Gigabit-class LTE, and up to 1TB of storage.
The new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro will be available in silver and space grey finishes in 64GB, 256GB and 512GB configurations as well as a new 1TB option. The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at £769 for the Wi-Fi model and £919 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at £969 for the Wi-Fi model and £1,119 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model.
Want to make it big on Instagram? Here are 5 top Instagram tips from 8 professional photographers to help get you started...
Adobe have announced major updates to Creative Cloud applications including Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, Illustrator CC, InDesign CC, Premiere Pro CC and Adobe XD. They've also unveiled Premiere Rush CC (pictured), the first all-in-one, easy-to-use video editing app for social media creators, and previewed new iPad versions of Adobe Photoshop CC and Project Gemini, a drawing app.
Get a 1-year membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan, worth £119, when purchasing either an X-Rite i1Display Pro, i1Photographer Kit, ColorMunki Photographer Kit or i1Studio.
ON1 Photo RAW 2019 will include an abundance of new features and technologies along with a streamlined workflow that is elegant, powerful, and easy to learn. Notable new features include a new nondestructive workflow for layers, autoalignment of layers, focus stacking, a new portrait module, a new AIpowered masking tool, a new text tool, new digital asset management updates and more.
ON1 Photo RAW 2019 is available to preorder now at an introductory special of $99.99 for a limited time. Previous owners of any ON1 product can preorder at a special introductory upgrade price of $79.99 for a limited time.
The Fujifilm GFX 50R is a rangefinder-styled medium-format mirrorless camera that's smaller and lighter than the GFX 50S (145g less and 25mm thinner). The 51.4 megapixel GFX 50R rangefinder camera allows you to keep your eye on a subject while looking through the the 0.77x 3.69M-dot organic EL electronic viewfinder (EVF) with the other eye. It is the first model in the GFX system to support the Bluetooth low energy technology, while the magnesium alloy body is weather-sealed in 64 places to provide dust and weather resistance and ability to operate at temperatures as low as -10.
The GFX 50R will be available in November 2018 for $4500.
The new Ricoh GR III 24 megapixel high-end digital compact camera is being previewed at Photokina 2018. Currently under development, the Ricoh GRIII inherits the basic GR-series concept, but it incorporates totally new devices in its main components, including a newly designed 28mm f/2.8 lens, a new 24.24 megapixel image sensor, and a new imaging engine.
The new sensor incorporates both a three-axis sensor-shift stabilization system and phase detection AF, neither of which the previous Ricoh GR II model offered, and the GR III will also feature a touchscreen LCD for the first time in the series. On the video side, 1080/60p is now supported (but not 4K) and there's a USB-C port.
The Ricoh GRIII is scheduled to be launched in early 2019.
ON1 Photo RAW 2018.5 includes a massive boost in overall performance, fixes for user reported issues, and new key features such as LUTs and camera profiles. ON1 Photo RAW 2018.5 will be available this June.
ON1 Photo RAW 2018.1 is the first major free update to Photo RAW 2018, a photo editor designed by photographers for photographers. Version 2018.1 includes image quality enhancements, performance improvements, and key features to optimize the photographer’s workflow.
The Photography Show has launched a life-changing competition called 60 Seconds to Change Your Life, with six months’ professional training and a prize package worth over £15,000 up for grabs.
The Panasonic GF10 / GF90 is a new mirrorless camera aimed at beginners. Accompanied by the strapline "My First Mirrorless", the GF10 / GF90 has a special "4K Selphy" mode that allows you to shoot selfies using the camera's 4K Photo 30fps high speed continuous shooting mode. The 16 megapixel DC-GF10 also sports a new color, now available in Black, White or Orange, a redesigned grip that looks suspiciously like the one found on the Olympus E-PL8, and it uses Micro SD memory cards. Sales of the Panasonic GF10 / GF90 will start in Japan on February 22nd 2018. Note that there is no difference in product specifications between the DC-GF10 / DC-GF90 part numbers.
The LaCie DJI Copilot is a complete backup on-set solution, allowing users to playback, copy and manage their drone footage from their mobile device without a PC. You can quickly connect and reference the built-in screen to initiate direct file transfer from an SD card to LaCie DJI Copilot without the need of a laptop or a mobile network. With 2TB of storage, the LaCie DJI Copilot enables users to easily store up to 65 hours of 4K 30fps video footage and 20K+ RAW photos. The LaCie DJI Copilot’s street price in the U.S. will be $349 and will be shipping in the spring.
We take a look at 3 features on your Canon camera that can help with your Black and White photography.
ON1 Photo RAW 2018 offers photographers accelerated photo management, precise photo development, hundreds of customizable photo effects, fast and beautiful HDR, pano stitching, masking and blending adjustments, layers, and much more.
ON1 Photo RAW 2018 is available for download as a free 30-day trial from the ON1 website. Previous owners of any ON1 app (or ON1 plug-in) can upgrade for $99.99. Those who don’t own an ON1 app can order for $119.99.
DxO today announced the acquisition of the Nik Collection assets from Google. The Nik Collection is composed of seven desktop plugins for Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop that provide a powerful range of photo editing capabilities. The current lineup of the Nik Collection includes Analog Efex Pro, Color Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro, HDR Efex Pro, Dfine, Viveza and Sharpener Pro. DxO plans to continue development of the Nik Collection. The current version will remain available for free on DxO’s dedicated website, while a new version is planned for mid-2018.
At Adobe MAX, Adobe announced a number of feature updates to Photoshop CC. Lightroom Photos is now available in the Photoshop start screen and search, so you can search or browse the photos you’ve synced across Lightroom’s desktop, mobile and cloud experiences and import and edit them directly in Photoshop. The search functionality in Lightroom Photos is powered by Adobe Sensei so you can search through your photos even if you’ve never tagged them. Furthermore, you can now open and edit 360 spherical panoramic images, and retain key metadata on export to use with third-party panoramic viewers. Another new feature is colour and luminance range masking in Adobe Camera Raw, as well as support for HEIF files, allowing users to take advantage of iPhone 7+ depth map data to create a shallow depth-of-field effect. Other novelties include improvements to the selection, masking and resizing processes, a new Curvature Pen Tool and enhanced Brush Presets. You can read more about these feature improvements at the website below
Adobe have just announced the all-new Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC cloud- based photography service. Featuring a streamlined user interface, Lightroom CC enables image editing in full resolution across mobile, desktop, and the web. With Lightroom CC, photographers can make edits on one device and automatically synchronise their changes everywhere. Additionally, Lightroom CC has scalable storage options for safe and secure back up of full resolution photos including raw files. Plus, Adobe Sensei’s machine learning technology automatically applies searchable keywords to objects in photographs, making organisation in Lightroom CC easier than ever. The all-new Lightroom CC is available across three photography plans: the Creative Cloud Photography plan with 1 TB includes Lightroom CC, Lightroom for mobile and web, Photoshop CC, Adobe Spark with premium features, Adobe Portfolio, and 1 TB of cloud storage (£16.64/month excl. VAT), but Lightroom CC has also been added to the existing Creative Cloud Photography plan with an additional 20 GB of storage to help users get started on the new service. This plan remains at £8.32/month excl. VAT. Finally, the all-new Lightroom CC plan addresses the needs of photographers who want a cloud-based photography service for editing, organising, storing and sharing their photos from wherever they are, and includes Lightroom CC, Lightroom for mobile and web, Adobe Spark with premium features, Adobe Portfolio, and 1 TB of cloud storage (£8.32/month excl. VAT).
Timelapse+ have launched their new Timelapse Workflow plugin for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. The plugin allows photographers to group photos by time-lapse, automatically create keyframes, blend settings between keyframes and preview your time-lapse -- all without leaving Lightroom. “After meeting in person with a customer to walk them through post-processing, I realized that for many people, if they’re not already familiar with the process, it can be complicated and it’s easy to mess up and get disappointing
results while working.” Said Elijah Parker, Founder of Timelapse+, “If you're doing any kind of day-to-night or night-to-day, this plugin becomes essential for blending changes in white balance or exposure across a series of frames. Get great results with a minimal learning curve.” The TImelapse Workflow Plugin is free for anyone who owns the Timelapse VIEW intervalometer.
Jessops now offers a 30-day Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan membership with selected purchases including all cameras, camcorders, lenses, drones and Jessops Academy courses. Jessops Academy aims to help you get the most out of your camera and offer you a range of photographic opportunities through a selection of courses, workshops, experiences and trips. The Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan is a subscription-based service that gives users access to the latest versions of Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom as well as the Adobe Spark web app and a number of mobile apps and services.
The Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art is currently the fastest wide-angle prime lens for full-frame DSLR cameras, making it ideal for astro-photography. Read our expert Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art review to find out if it's as good as it looks on paper...
As a photographer, we know that your colours matter to you. Having the latest technology is the best way to ensure that your display is always showing you exactly what you need to be seeing during post-production. That’s why Datacolor are offering you the chance to upgrade your display calibration device to the Spyder5ELITE+ for the fraction of the price you would pay buying outright.
Datacolor are offering all display calibration owners the opportunity to upgrade to SypderELITE+ for a fraction of the price this summer. From July 17th to August 31st 2017, users can save £1301 on the Spyder5ELITE package, which will include a Spyder5ELITE+ software upgrade and a 90-day Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan membership. Photographers looking to upgrade their colour calibration device can take advantage of the promotion by submitting the serial number for their display calibration device at the website below.
Phase One today released Capture One Pro 10.1. New features in this version include an enhanced Stules workflow, tokenised watermarking, a new master reset function, vectorscope orientation for colour wheels, and a number of Apple Script enhancements. This update adds support for raw files generated by the Pentax K-70 and KP, the Panasonic GH5, GX8, TZ85, TZ100 and FZ2000, the Nikon D5600 and D3400, the Fuji X-Pro2, X-T20 . X-A10 and XQ2 cameras, as well as 21 new lenses. Capture One Pro 10.1 for Mac and Windows is available now and free to current Capture One Pro 10 customers.
Adobe have teamed up with The Photography Show (TPS) 2017 to offer visitors to the show 20% off the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan (£8.08 per month instead of £10.10 per month for an annual plan). Providing access to the Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC desktop applications, the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan also includes unique sophisticated mobile capabilities: automatically syncing photos with Lightroom CC on the desktop, Lightroom on mobile devices lets users access and edit their entire catalogue of photos on iPad, iPhone as well as Android smartphones and tablets. Additionally, the Adobe Theatre is returning to The Photography Show this year from March 18 to March 21 2017, offering a comprehensive programme of sessions to help improve and enhance photographers' image editing skills.
Book a Studio, phlow, Rambex Universal and SNAPP Guides have been chosen to exhibit their products and services in the inaugural Innovation Hub at The Photography Show (18-21 March, NEC Birmingham). The Innovation Hub will play host to the first lens in the world to fit any camera or video camera – the Rambex 105mm f/8 Universal and DIY Camera Lens v1.0. The Universal Lens is manually operated and focused by sliding the focusing tube forwards or backwards. Pros will also benefit from a visit to see the team behind Book a Studio – an all-new, unique digital directory which allows photographers and videographers to find their perfect studio. Founded in 2016 and based in London, Book a Studio provides everything needed for users to contact studios and is free of charge for both studios and photographers to use. For the photographers heading to the show who love to combine travel into their work, SNAPP Guides' new, innovative, smart app will change the way that future shoots are planned, leaving more time for the all-important creative preparation. phlow will also be on hand in Innovation Hub to present their photo-sharing platform with the visitors of The Photography Show looking to get ahead with their own digital marketing. The technology behind this new app allows the images photographers have taken to be seen by targeted people beyond existing social circles, while providing powerful and contextual insights into portfolios.
Fujifilm have announced that it will release the GFX 50S medium format mirrorless digital camera on February 23, 2017. At the same time, it will also release the FUJINON GF 63mm F2.8 R WR, FUJINON GF 32-64mm F4 R LM WR, and FUJINON GF 120mm F4 R LM OIS WR Macro interchangeable lenses. The GFX 50S will cost $6495 / £6199 body only.
The SureColor P5000 is a new professional 17-inch, 10-colour inkjet printer for photographers. Leveraging the advanced Epson PrecisionCore TFP printhead and UltraChome HDX ink set, the SureColor P5000 delivers outstanding output with an increased colour gamut gamut, higher-density blacks and twice the print permanence than the previous generation. The printer can support two different ink configurations. The SureColor P5000 Standard and Designer editions leverage Light Light Black ink for twice the overall print permanence, smooth and neutral tonal transitions and support of the Epson Advanced Black and White print mode. The Commercial Edition includes Violet ink, in place of Light Light Black, for an expanded colour gamut. The printer is available for $1.995 (both editions).
The winners of the 3rd International Landscape Photographer of the Year (ILPOTY) competition have been announced. From 2394 entries, the winner of the third International Landscape Photographer of the Year (based on a folio submission of at least 4 images) is Alex Noriega from the USA, while the winner of the third International Landscape Photograph of the Year (awarded for a single image) is a picture by Hougaard Malan, from South Africa (reprinted above), who also won the Waterfall Award. Runners-up include Kath Salier, Peter Poppe, Simone Cmoon and Eberhard Ehmke. The Black & White Award went to Guy Havell, the Dominant Sky category was won by Leonardo Papèra, the South America Award was given to Kalan Robb, while the Squarial (square aerial) Award was won by Ignacio Palacios.
Datacolor today announced that they will be partnering with Adobe to offer customers who purchase a qualifying Spyder product the opportunity to receive a 90-day Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan trial. In conjunction with Adobe’s Affinity Partner programme, Datacolor customers will receive promotion redemption instructions upon purchase and activation of qualifying Spyder colour calibration tools, which include Datacolor’s Spyder5EXPRESS (pictured), Spyder5PRO, Spyder5ELITE, Spyder5STUDIO, Spyder5CAPTURE PRO and SpyderPRINT products. “We are always looking for innovative ways to provide our customers with the optimal photography workflow, from capture to print.” said Stefan Zrenner, Director Global Sales & Marketing Imaging, Datacolor. “We’re excited to announce this partner promotion with Adobe, as the seamless integration between our industry-leading color calibration products and Adobe’s world-renowned photography tools will allow our customers to exercise total creative control over their images.”
Adobe showcased next-generation Creative Cloud innovation, including a new breed of applications in experience design, photography and 3D compositing, as well as new developments brewing in the company’s research labs, at Adobe MAX 2016. A new Mac release of Adobe Experience Design CC (XD), the first all-in-one tool for designing, prototyping and sharing user experiences for website and mobile apps, is now available with two highly anticipated features - Layers and Symbols support. First made popular in Adobe’s flagship design tools Photoshop CC and Illustrator CC, XD reimagines Layers and Symbols to address the specific needs of user experience designers. The next release of Adobe Premiere Pro CC includes auto-aware virtual reality that seamlessly detects and applies the correct setting to stereoscopic and monoscopic media. First introduced at IBC, updates to Premiere Pro, After Effects CC and Prelude CC will also include a Beta of Team Projects that allows teams and enterprise customers to co-edit and collaborate on Creative Cloud projects. Adobe is also releasing a new Cinema 4D renderer in After Effects that will speed up efficiency and quality of 3D content generation. Additionally, Adobe announced a partnership with Reuters, the world’s largest international multimedia news provider, to bring Reuters video and photography to Adobe Stock’s new editorial collection. Available through Adobe Creative Cloud, creatives will be able to access Reuters editorial content including Reuters photos covering news, sports and entertainment events, and Reuters video footage covering all major events across the globe.
The Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro is an affordable new macro lens for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras. Read our expert Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro review to find out if you should add this lens to your camera bag...
DJI today revealed its Mavic Pro drone – a portable, powerful and easy-to-use remote-controlled helicopter featuring DJI’s most innovative flight technology in a sleek, foldable package. Small enough to toss in a bag and easy enough to launch quickly whenever the time and place are right, the DJI Mavic Pro's folding design compresses the entire drone to practically the size of a water bottle. Equipped with a stabilised, raw-capable 4K/12-megapixel camera and a visual navigation system, with a 4.3-mile range and 27-minute flight time, the Mavic Pro can be operated by the powerful long range remote controller, or simply by your smartphone at shorter range. When controlled by a smartphone, the whole system can be set up and airborne in less than a minute. The Mavic Pro’s U.S. retail price will be $999 with the remote controller, and $749 without.
Corel PaintShop Pro X9 is the latest version of the affordable photo-editing suite. What new features does it add, and can it still challenge Adobe Photoshop? Read our in-depth Corel PaintShop Pro X9 review to find out...
XP Distribution has announced an update to the X-Rite i1Profiler software, which is featured in the i1 line-up including i1Display Pro, i1Basic Pro 2, and i1Photo Pro 2. The update adds calibration support for professional video colour workflows Rec. 2020 and DCIP3, expanding the range of broadcast video standards which the i1Profiler software already supports; NTSC, ITUR Rec.BT.709 and PAL SECAM.
The Fujifilm X-T2 is the ultimate mirrorless digital camera that uses advanced technologies to achieve premium image quality, outstanding operability and beautiful design reminiscent of traditional cameras. The X-T2 offers outstanding image quality with FUJIFILM’s colour reproduction formulated over 80 years, advanced autofocus functions and 4K high definition video. The Fujifilm X-T2 will go on sale on September 8th 2016. In the UK, the Fujifilm X-T2 body only will cost £1399 / $1599 and the Fujifilm X-T2 with the XF18-55 lens will cost £1649 / $1899.
At The Photography Show 2016, Wacom will be showcasing its range of pen tablets and creative pen displays aimed at professional photographers. Products on display include the Intuos Pro pen tablets, Cintiq creative pen displays and Cintiq Companion 2 mobile 2-in-1 multi-touch creative tablet. The company's stand will host a number of workshops including retouching tips and tricks, learning how to use the Wacom Color Manager with the Cintiq 27QHD, and a pen-versus-mouse workshop to highlight the key benefits of using a tablet for photographers. There will be special show offers available too, including a package from Wacom and Adobe offering a 12-month Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan membership with every purchase from the Intuos Pro and Cintiq ranges.
Adobe has teamed up with The Photography Show (TPS) to offer visitors to the show 20% off the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan. “Photoshop and Lightroom have been fundamental in the evolution of digital photography and we are extremely excited to be giving photographers of all abilities the chance to learn more about what Creative Cloud Photography plan has to offer at this year’s show,” said Liz Wilkins, Head of Digital Media Marketing, Northern Europe at Adobe UK. The Adobe Theatre is returning to The Photography Show this year from March 19 to March 22 2016, offering a comprehensive programme of sessions for all levels to help improve and enhance photographer's image editing skills.
Tamron have introduced a new version of their 90mm macro lens. The new Tamron SP 90mm F/2.8 VC USD MACRO 1:1 VC inherits many of the features of its predecessor, but boasts an enhanced VC image stabilisation system with XY-Shift compensation and improved near-silent USD focusing system. The construction of the lens now includes a newly designed all-metallic barrel, with larger switches reconfigured for smoother function. Tamron have incorporated a new standard of Moisture-Proof & Dust-Resistant construction, plus Tamron’s Fluorine coating which is applied to the front element to help repel water and oil. This new 90mm VC USD lens will also be the first Tamron lens incorporating the facility for users to update firmware, customise autofocus positions and adjust the mechanical setup and preferences of the lens by simply attaching it to the optional TAMRON TAP-in Console and connecting it via USB to a PC. Launching on Thursday, the new lens carries an SRP of £580 / $649. (This TAP-in console will be released in March.)
Eizo has announced two 24.1-inch monitors with a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels. The ColorEdge CG2420 is the professional-level model for use in photography, design, print, and post-production. It features a built-in self-calibration sensor for hassle-free monitor maintenance that ensures optimal color reproduction and image consistency throughout the creative workflow. The ColorEdge CS2420 includes many of the advanced features of Eizo’s ColorEdge lineup while meeting the different needs and budgets of hobbyists and prosumers. Both monitors feature a wide-gamut IPS (in-plane-switching) panel with 10-bit display from a 16-bit LUT and 99% Adobe RGB colour space coverage. The ColorEdge CG2420 and CS2420 monitors from Eizo will be shipping from February. The date of availability varies by country.
The Adobe Theatre will return for the second year at The Photography Show, held at NEC Birmingham, 19-22 March 2016. Thirty-minute sessions are planned for the theatre across the four-day event, exploring the various ways in which photographers can process and edit their photos. "We’re delighted to have the opportunity to showcase what the modern day photographer needs to know, covering all aspects of a photographic journey," says Adobe Principal Solutions Consultant Richard Curtis. "We’ll share tips on how to add value to the image capture within your camera, image editing techniques and best practices at the computer, as well as many options to publish your work to the internet and across your social channels."
The Societies are gearing up for Europe's largest all-welcome photographic convention. Described by the organisers as "a veritable feast of education, with five days of action packed programmes designed to help you put your imagery ahead of the game," the three-day trade event will be held at the Hilton London Metropole Hotel, Edgware Road, London, W2 1JU, starting on Friday 22 January 2016. Photographers planning to visit the convention can still access the Trade Show element of the London-based event free of charge, if they pre-register before 15 January 2016. For more information on The Societies 2016 Convention, visit the website below.
In addition to releasing Capture CC and Photoshop Fix, Adobe have announced various updates to their existing Creative Cloud applications and services, as well as Adobe Stock. Describing their vision for Creative Cloud as a “connected creative canvas” where people create and share their work from anywhere, Adobe today added new Touch capabilities to their desktop applications including Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC and Premiere Pro CC. The recently launched Adobe Stock marketplace will soon support the download and purchase of video content, and add the ability to search for and browse assets directly from Creative Cloud Libraries. The company also announced Adobe Portfolio, a new way to create beautiful, simple, creative portfolio websites; unveiled feature updates to its popular Creative Cloud Photography plan; and introduced powerful new editing capabilities for Lightroom for web.
Adobe today released two new mobile apps, Photoshop Fix and Capture CC. Available today, Photoshop Fix offers a retouching and restoration-focused image editing experience on a mobile device courtesy of a simple, intuitive touch interface that makes Photoshop desktop features like the Healing Brush and Liquify available for real retouching work on iPad and iPhone. Adobe Capture CC combines the capabilities of Adobe Brush, Adobe Shape, Adobe Color and Adobe Hue into a single app and the captured design asset can be used as a brush, shape or colour theme for professional work.
The winners of the 2nd International Landscape Photographer of the Year (ILPOTY) competition have been announced. The overall winner (based on a folio submission of at least 4 images) is Luke Austin from Australia. Luke uses a Nikon D800E with the Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8, 45mm f2.8 Tilt Shift and 70-200mm f4 lenses, and an assortment of Feisol Pro and Tournament series tripods. The runner-up International Landscape Photographer of the Year is Ricardo Da Cunha from Australia..
The Leica S (Typ 007) medium format camera combines outstanding image quality with maximum speed and flawless handling. The new Leica S brings together maximum burst rate, exceptional sensor sensitivity and an extensive range of capture modes for photos and – for the first time – video footage. With a burst frequency of up to 3.5 frames per second, full-HD video in full-frame medium format sensor size, 4K video recording in Super 35 format, fast Live View mode and exceptional image quality at all ISO settings, the Leica S (Typ 007) reinforces its status as the benchmark in the medium format category.
The Leica S (Typ 007) is available in the UK from selected Leica stockists, at a suggested retail price of £12,900 including VAT, and in the US it's priced at $16,900.
Pixbuf has just launched into public beta, and introduced photographer's analytics. Creating a platform for aggregating data from all available services, Pixbuf gives photographers an idea of who likes their pictures and what communities they are from. Acting as a photographer’s hub for automated sharing on various services, Pixhub enables you to easily upload your pictures, set up sharing and head out to take more pictures. “We want to give photographers back the time for photography,” says Filip Molcan, founder of Pixbuf. “Making an exceptional picture is very difficult today. Standing out from the crowd on the Internet is even harder and that’s where we want to help.” Pixbuf is available for free at the website below.
EIZO USA have announces the new ColorEdge CS270/CS240 Professional Photo Kit – an all-in-one colour-managed display solution package for photo professionals. The kit consists of an EIZO EX2 photometer, a copy of EIZO's ColorNavigator 6 software and either an EIZO ColorEdge CS270 or an EIZO ColorEdge CS240 monitor (pictured). It also includes a 20% discount coupon for Adobe's Creative Cloud Photography Plan. EIZO USA will launch the Professional Photo Kit through authorised resellers and will begin shipping on 24 August 2015. The price of the kit is $964 for the 24" option and $1,214 for the 27" one.
FXHOME have released version 7 of PhotoKey Pro, the industry-leading green screen editor for photographers. Featuring the most powerful automatic chroma key tool available, PhotoKey 7 Pro instantly analyses and removes the green screen before replacing it with a new background, allowing you to easily create composites. In Version 7, a new spill simulation system accurately replaces unwanted light spill from your green screen with natural ambient lighting from your new background, whilst the new client preview window enables photographers to show off a full-screen, live preview of their work on a second monitor. The update also adds raw image file support, intelligent keying, Retina screen compatibility, FTP export and various hot folder enhancements. PhotoKey 7 Pro is available for both Mac and Windows, priced at $299.
To celebrate the launch of a new "mystery monitor," Colour Confidence is inviting professional photographers to register their interest for the chance to win the mystery monitor on launch day along with an X-Rite i1Display Pro. The company has not yet revealed the make and model of the monitor but say the 27” display features an "impressively wide-gamut" IPS panel and reproduces 99% of the Adobe RGB colour space. The winner of the mystery monitor competition will be announced on 1st September when the monitor officially launches.
Adobe have announced that the next release of Adobe Camera Raw (v9.1.1) will be the final version available for use with Photoshop CS6. Customers who wish to edit raw image files produced with the newest cameras in CS6 will need to convert them first to DNG format using the free Adobe DNG Converter utility. Subscribers to Adobe Creative Cloud (CC) will continue to receive the latest updates as long as their subscription lasts. The release date for ACR 9.1.1 has yet to be communicated.
Update: Adobe Camera Raw 9.1.1 has now been released.
BenQ has partnered with Adobe to launch a new promotion for creative professionals. Those purchasing a new BenQ 24” PG2401PT colour critical monitor can now get a one-year membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography (worth £102). The Creative Cloud Photography plan combines the creative power of Adobe Photoshop CC with the management and enhancement tools within Adobe Lightroom CC. This new BenQ / Adobe offer is available to purchase through leading photography retailers and is distributed exclusively by Colour Confidence in the UK, Poland, France, the Nordics and Spain.
Adobe have released version 1.2 of Lightroom Mobile for Android phones and tablets. This update adds support for raw image files generated by the Panasonic CM1, enables users to copy and paste adjustments from one photo to another, introduces a more sophisticated tool for cropping and straightening your photographs, and introduces the new Segmented view, which gives you a different way to view and engage with your photos.
Flickr have just unveiled their new Pro membership plan. Available to both existing and new members, this subscription offers improved stats, a discount on Adobe software and more. Flickr members who do not currently have Flickr Pro can purchase it for $5.99/month or $49.99/year. Flickr members who have existing Pro accounts will automatically be upgraded to the new Pro membership will automatically be upgraded to the new Pro membership while being able to keep theirexisting pricing and unlimited space. Existing Flickr Ad-Free account holders will be automatically upgraded to the new Flickr Pro with no change in price or renewal date.
The second in the Mastering your DSLR series by Simon Watkinson, the iBook Mastering DSLR Travel Photography will benefit any photographer wishing to improve their travel photography skills. Simon has been teaching photography for nearly 15 years and has a way with explaining his subject in a simple and easy to understand manner. As well as explaining the techniques and technical aspects of photography this book considers all aspects of travel photography from what equipment to take, how to stay well and planning a trip. There are also tutorials of process techniques in Adobe Lightroom as well a exploring the world of black and white photography. The 200-page iBook is currently available at the discounted price of £2.99/$3.99 - for the Apple iPad and Mac computers only.
DxO today introduced the DxO ONE, a smartphone-controlled, raw-capable camera module featuring a 1"-type sensor and a 32mm (eq.) f/1.8 lens with a 6-bladed aperture diaphragm. The 20.2-megapixel DxO ONE is a premium camera that attaches to your iPhone or iPad via the Lightning connector, turning the smartphone/tablet display into the camera’s viewfinder. A free iOS app enables control of the individual settings on the DxO ONE camera, including aperture, shutter speed (from 15s to 1/8000s), and ISO (from 100 to 51200). In addition to an Auto mode, the DxO ONE app offers various capture modes, including multiple Scene modes, Speed, Aperture Priority, or full Manual mode – and the user interface automatically adapts to the selected mode for a unique user experience. For the ultimate in noise-free image quality – even in very low light – users can choose to capture images in DxO’s new SuperRAW format. A SuperRAW file is the result of 4 raw frames captured in quick succession. When the DxO ONE camera is connected to a Mac or PC, the DxO Connect companion software automatically merges the four images together using the very latest in spatial and temporal noise reduction. The DxO ONE also records videos at 1080p/30fps or 720p/120fps, and swivels ±60° enabling creative perspectives. The DxO ONE is available for pre-order at £499, with delivery planned for Q4 2015.
Sergio Gutierrez is the lucky winner of a fantastic i1 Display Pro & ColorChecker Passport bundle! Congratulations!
i1 Display Pro & ColorChecker Passport bundle - Take control of your colour in camera and on screen.
The i1DisplayPro is the ultimate solution for the most demanding photographers looking for on screen colour accuracy. Photographers know that calibrated and profiled display is a critical element in an efficient digital workflow. Nobody wants to spend hours at their monitor perfecting images or video only to find that their display wasn’t accurately representing their digital files. What you see on your monitor (or projector) has to match your digital file or you will never be happy with the result, no matter how much time you devote to perfecting it.
ColorChecker Passport is a powerful 'capture to edit' colour solution for any photographer looking for more accurate, consistent colour and creative flexibility ColorChecker Passport combines three photographic targets into one pocket size protective, self-standing case that adjusts to any scene. Together with the included camera calibration software, it allows you to capture a scene accurately and then creatively edit it.
In addition, to complete the ultimate photographic workflow this bundle also comes with the option to purchase a 1 year Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan for just £86 (15% discount).
X-Rite have announced that their offer of a one year membership to the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan with all purchases of X-Rite’s ColorMunki Photo or i1Photo Pro 2 now includes the new Lightroom CC as part of the bundle. “This update to Lightroom CC, included in the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan, means that anyone purchasing the ColorMunki Photo or i1Photo Pro is getting the latest and most up to date imaging tools in one exceptional value package” commented Geoffrey Clements, Managing Director of X-Rite Photo Europe. “The ColorMunki Photo, i1Photo Pro 2 and i1Display Pro set the standard for accurate colour management technology. They provide users with the peace of mind they need to get creative with their images.” In addition, the i1Display Pro comes with the option to receive a 15% discount on the one-year membership.
The Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) is a new black and white rangefinder camera. The Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) features a newly developed 24 megapixel full-frame black-and-white CMOS sensor, ISO range of 320-2500, high-performance Leica Maestro image processor, 2Gb buffer, Live View function with focus peaking, 1080p HD video recording, 3-inch 921K-dot LCD with a Sapphire Crystal screen, and compatibility with almost all lenses of the Leica R series.
The Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) will be available in early May for £5750 / €7200.
X-Rite is hosting a free webinar with X-Rite Coloratti, fine art and commercial photographer, and professional photographic trainer, Mark Wood. Taking place from 5:30pm – 6:30pm GMT on 14th May, this Photoshop and Lightroom masterclass will demonstrate the importance of colour management, image editing and the new features of Lightroom CC. Topics to be covered include tips for importing into Lightroom CC, dealing with tone and colours that can not be displayed or printed, round tripping images via Photoshop, an introduction to Smart Objects, and more. “For many photographers, the work behind the lens comes naturally. Mastering the digital workflow, with tools such as Photoshop and Lightroom can take a bit more time and effort.” commented Geoffrey Clements, Managing Director of X-Rite Photo Europe. “We have partnered with Adobe to create the ultimate photographic workflow with our recent special offers on the ColorMunki Display, i1Photo Pro 2 and the i1Display Pro, and crucially we want to help people get the most from this workflow.”
X-Rite have announced a comprehensive list of events designed to teach photographers about the benefits of a fully colour managed workflow. “The more we talk to new and existing customers, the clearer it becomes that increasing people’s knowledge of how to effectively colour manage a photographic workflow really helps to improve people’s photographic experiences,” Managing Director of X-Rite Photo Europe, Geoffrey Clements said. “Good colour management across all your devices saves time, money and ultimately produces better images. We’re looking forward to continuing to educate and support photographers throughout these events.” Throughout the events there will be a number of special offers including, the special promotion in conjunction with Adobe, where users can buy either a ColorMunki Photo or i1Photo Pro 2 and enjoy a one year Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan membership or buy the i1Display Pro and claim a 15 percent discount on an annual Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan membership. Click through / scroll down for the full list of dates and locations.
Adobe today announced a major update to its Creative Cloud Photography plan with the release of an all-new Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC. This is a subscription-based desktop application that boasts a number of new features including HDR Merge, Panorama Merge, Face Recognition, advanced video slideshows and various performance/GPU enhancements. Automatically synced with Lightroom CC on the desktop, Lightroom on mobile devices lets users access and edit their catalogue of photos across a full range of iOS and Android devices. This release includes a major enhancement for Android with DNG raw file support on compatible Lollipop-enabled devices. The Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan (£8.57/$9.99 per month) includes Lightroom CC across desktop, Web and mobile, Photoshop CC and Photoshop Mix (for iPhone and iPad). All products are also available as part of Creative Cloud complete plan.
The Pentax K-S2 is a new, very capable entry-level DSLR camera. The weather-proof K-S2 offers 20 megapixels, a variable-angle LCD monitor, an 11-point AF system, 3-inch LCD screen, an optical viewfinder with 100% frame coverage, wireless LAN and NFC functionality, and an ISO range of 100-51200, all for £550 / $700 body only. Read our in-depth Pentax K-S2 review now...
X-Rite are offering a one-year membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan, worth £102, with all purchases of X-Rite’s ColorMunki Photo or i1Photo Pro 2. “When working in Lightroom CC, Photoshop CC or both, photographers need the confidence that they are seeing an accurate representation of their image. They need the reassurance that the adjustments they are making in these powerful applications will appear correctly on screen and in print,” commented Geoffrey Clements, Managing Director of X-Rite Photo Europe. “The ColorMunki Photo, i1Photo Pro 2 and i1Display Pro set the standard for accurate colour management technology. They provide users with the peace of mind they need to get creative with their images.” For more information, visit the website below.
Wacom will be showcasing its new mobile Cintiq Companion 2 (pictured), its range of Cintiq creative pen displays including the new Cintiq 13HD touch and the new flagship Cintiq 27QHD touch for high-end photography as well as its Intuos Pro range at The Photography Show. Wacom ambassadors Ian Sayers and burlesque photographer/retoucher Tigz Rice will also be present on the stand, providing expertise and knowledge to visitors on how to get the best out of leading digital imaging software packages using a Wacom tablet. The Photography SHow 2015 will be taking place from 21-24 March at the Birmingham NEC.
The Pentax K-S1 is a new entry-level DSLR camera that is available in 12 different colour variations. The 20 megapixel K-S1 offers 5.4fps continuous shooting, an 11-point AF system, 3-inch LCD screen, an optical viewfinder with 100% frame coverage and an ISO range of 100-51200. Read our in-depth Pentax K-S1 review...
Adobe today released Lightroom mobile for Android phones. Lightroom mobile is a companion app to Lightroom 5 desktop software, available as part of Adobe Creative Cloud. First released for iPad and iPhone, Lightroom mobile allows you to utilise your Android phone to review and edit your images and have the changes sync back to your Lightroom catalogue at home. Lightroom mobile for Android requires a device equipped with a quad-core CPU with 1.7 GHZ ARMv7 architecture, 1GB RAM, 8GB of internal storage and Android Jellybean, KitKat, or Lollipop. Do note that it may take up to 24 hours for Lightroom mobile to be available in your local Google Play app store.
The EIZO ColorEdge CG318-4K is a new 31-inch monitor with a DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives) 4K (4096 x 2160) native resolution. Featuring a 10-bit Ultra HD LCD panel with a wide colour gamut that reproduces 98% of the DCI-P3 and 99% of the Adobe RGB colour space, the ColorEdge CG318-4K comes with a built-in sensor to enable self-calibration for hassle-free monitor maintenance. For video editing and post production, the ColorEdge CG318-4K has a 3D look-up table that adjusts colour individually on an RGB cubic table. With ColorNavigator NX’s film emulation function, the 3D LUT applies a film look to the image so creators can preview how the image will be seen by their audience. Viewing angles are 178° and the maximum brightness is 350 cd/m2. Dark tones retain their depth with a 1500:1 contrast ratio even when viewing the screen from an angle. The ColorEdge CG318-4K will begin shipping in April 2015.
The Leica S (Type 007) is the new top model of the Leica S-System. With a burst frequency of up to 3.5 frames per second, full-HD video in full-frame medium-format sensor size and 4K video recording, fast Live View mode and exceptional imaging quality at all ISO settings, the Leica S (Type 007) once again documents its status as the benchmark in the medium-format segment. The launch of the Leica S (Type 007) is planned for spring 2015; £18,720.00 RRP
The Leica S-E is the entry-level model in the Leica S medium-format system. The Leica S-E provides practically all technical advantages of the Leica S (Type 006) and presents an attractive alternative within the Leica S-System. The new colour scheme, with a top deck in anthracite grey paint and a silver anodised shutter speed dial, adds even more to its attraction.
The Leica S-E will retail at £12,480 RRP and will be available from September 2014 from Leica Store Mayfair, Leica Store Burlington and selected Leica dealers.
Eizo has introduced the ColorEdge CS240, a 24.1-inch monitor for photographers and graphic design professionals. The ColorEdge CS240 features a wide-gamut IPS panel with a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels and 99% Adobe RGB coverage. With this extended gamut, images shot in raw can be converted to Adobe RGB and images shot in Adobe RGB will be displayed in vibrant and lush colours, the company says. The Eizo ColorEdge CS240 comes equipped with DisplayPort, HDMI, and DVI input terminals. With the DisplayPort input, the monitor offers 10-bit display (more than one billion colours simultaneously) from a 16-bit look-up table, which also makes hardware calibration possible. For users that require a wide variety of calibration functionality, Eizo bundles its proprietary ColorNavigator 6 software. Preset target values for photography, printing, and web design are included for users looking for a simple way to calibrate the monitor. Experienced users can set their own target values for brightness, gamma, and white point, and generate an ICC profile. ColorNavigator 6 offers several advanced functions such as measuring the white of the paper to be used for printing for better screen-to-print matching and profile validation for verifying calibration results. An ergonomic stand with 35° tilt, 344° swivel, portrait mode, and 130 mm height adjustment lets users place the screen in the optimal position. The Eizo ColorEdge CS240 is now shipping to retailers, and will be on display at Photokina in Cologne, Germany, in hall 4.1 stand I025 J030. Pricing to be confirmed.
The EIZO ColorEdge CG247 monitor is now available in the United Kingdom. The ColorEdge CG247 is targeted at professionals in photography, prepress and post-production. It features a new 10-bit wide-gamut IPS panel that reproduces 99% of the Adobe RGB colour space and comes with a built-in calibration sensor for self-calibration. Additionally it has a 3D LUT (look-up table) that adjusts colour individually on an RGB cubic table. Connectivity options include HDMI, DVI and DisplayPort, as well as two upstream and two downstream USB ports. The EIZO ColorEdge CG247 is available in the UK from Colour Confidence for £1257.60.
Adobe's new Photography Plan enables anyone to use the most up-to-date desktop versions of both Lightroom and Photoshop CC for as little as £8.78/$9.99 per month, which is an excellent deal for most people, especially those just getting involved in serious photo editing. But Adobe's move to a subscription-based model raised the question of what would happen to users' Lightroom catalogues once their Creative Cloud (CC) membership expired. In a recent blog post, Adobe's Tom Hogarty responded to these concerns, stating that "at the end of a membership, the desktop application will continue to launch and provide access to the photographs managed within Lightroom as well as the Slideshow, Web, Book or Print creations that we know many photographers painstakingly create. The Develop and Map modules have been disabled in order to signal the end of the membership and the need to renew in order to receive Adobe’s continuous innovation in those areas. Access to Lightroom mobile workflows will also cease to function."
Adobe has unveiled a new suite of mobile apps and complementary hardware that connect Adobe Creative Cloud to your iPad. Adobe Sketch is a social sketching iPad app for free-form drawing, Adobe Line is the world’s first iPad app for precision drawing and drafting, while Photoshop Mix is billed as the most precise app for compositing and masking on iPad. Photoshop Mix also offers powerful cloud-based imaging technology on iPad for the first time, including Upright, Content Aware Fill, and Camera Shake Reduction. It offers non-destructive photo enhancements, selections, the ability to cut-out and mix images, and the ability to open and save PSD files. In addition to these apps, the company also released an iPhone version of Lightroom Mobile, and a couple of hardware devices including Adobe Ink, a digital pen, and Adobe Slide, a digital ruler. These devices work in tandem with Adobe Sketch and Adobe Line.
today announced the availability of the new Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan. Designed for anyone interested in photography, the new plan brings together - for £8.78/$9.99 per month -- Photoshop CC and Lightroom 5 as well as Lightroom’s mobile apps on iPad and now iPhone. Unlike the similar but limited-time special offers introduced last year, this subscription includes only 2GB of cloud storage (rather than 20GB).
Adobe today announced the availability of Lightroom mobile for iPad, a companion app to Lightroom desktop software, only available as part of Adobe Creative Cloud. The app enables iPad owners to sync mobile edits, metadata and collection changes back to the Lightroom catalogue on a Mac or Windows PC, automatically import images captured on an iPad and sync back to a Lightroom catalogue on the desktop, work on images even when your iPad is offline and sync photos between Lightroom 5 and Lightroom mobile. "With the launch of Lightroom mobile, we’ve unlocked professional-class photographic workflows from the confines of the desktop,” said Winston Hendrickson, vice president products, Creative Media Solutions, Adobe. "Lightroom and Photoshop redefined digital photography on the desktop and now, photographers can perfect images, wherever they are and, via Creative Cloud, seamlessly synchronise them back to their desktop catalogue.”
Eizo today unveiled the ColorEdge CG247 and the ColorEdge CX241 24.1" monitors. Both models feature a new wide-gamut IPS panel that reproduces 99% of the Adobe RGB colour space and displays more than a billion colours simultaneously. The ColorEdge CG247 comes with a built-in calibration sensor for self-calibration and is targeted at professionals in photography, prepress, and post production. The ColorEdge CX241 houses an internal correction sensor that maintains the calibration results after the monitor has been calibrated with an external colorimeter. For video editing and post production, the ColorEdge CG247 has a 3D LUT that adjusts colour individually on an RGB cubic table. The ColorEdge CG247 and CX241 will be available in the UK from June 2014.
Eizo has launched two updated 27” monitors, the ColorEdge CG277 and CX271. The EizoColorEdge CG277 is targeted at professionals in digital photography, prepress, video editing and post production. It features a sensor that is housed inside the monitor and swings up onto the screen for self-calibration. The ColorEdge CX271 houses an internal correction sensor that maintains the calibration results after the monitor has been calibrated with an external sensor. The ColorEdge CG277 and CX271 include the advanced features of their predecessors while offering a new wide-gamut IPSpanel that reproduces 99% of the Adobe RGB colour space. Other common features include a10-bit display, 16-bit look-up table, DisplayPort, HDMI, and DVI-D input terminals, stable brightness chromaticity and tone characteristics within seven minutes after power on, and an ergonomic stand with 25° tilt, 344° swivel, portrait mode, and 151.5 mm height adjustment. The ColorEdge CG277 and CX271 will be shipping in the UK from 1st April 2014 Both monotors will be on display at The Photography Show.
Adobe and Samsung have joined the list of exhibitiors at The Photography Show, a new event dedicated to the imaging industry taking place at Birmingham’s NEC between Saturday 1 and Tuesday 4 March 2014. Jonny Sullens, Head of Events, says, “We’re delighted to have Adobe and Samsung on board. Both are world leaders in technology and their innovative nature has had a hugely positive impact on the modern photographer." Tickets are available now at the website below.
On paper at least, the new Pentax K-3 is the most full-featured prosumer DSLR camera, offering a long list of features that will leave serious photographers salivating. Read our in-depth Pentax K-3 review to discover if this new DSLR can compete with the fierce competition from Nikon, Canon and Sony, not to mention the excellent compact system cameras from Olympus, Fujifilm and Panasonic...
Adobe has released major new updates to the video apps in Adobe Creative Cloud, including new capabilities in Adobe Premiere Pro CC, Adobe After Effects CC, Adobe SpeedGrade CC, Adobe Prelude CC, Adobe Media Encoder CC and Adobe Story CC Plus. Today’s updates, which were initially previewed in September , include a direct link colour pipeline between Adobe Premiere Pro CC and Adobe SpeedGrade CC, expanded native support for brilliant visuals including 4K high frame rate content, a new mask tracker in Adobe After Effects, the Adobe Prelude CC Live Logger iPad app and many other feature enhancements. Current Adobe Creative Cloud members receive all of these innovations as part of their existing membership at no extra cost.
During its keynote at the Photoshop World conference in Las Vegas, Adobe has announced its new Photoshop Photography Programme, which gives users who own Photoshop CS3 or higher the opportunity to use both Photoshop CC and Lightroom 5 for $9.99 per month. The offer additionally includes 20 gigabytes of online storage, access to Creative Cloud Learn's training resources, Behance ProSite, and ongoing upgrades and updates. Note that the $9.99 offer is valid in America, Asia (with the exception of Japan), Africa and European countries outside the EU. Japanese users pay ¥1,000, Australians AU$9.99, UK citizens £7.14 and the rest of the EU €9.99 per month. Also note that while these are not introductory prices, you do need to sign up before the end of this year to take advantage of this special offer, which will be available at the same time as Lightroom 5.2 - i.e. within a couple of weeks.
X-Rite has unveiled its schedule of free August 2013 webinars. The first session, entitled Photography That Makes a Difference, will commence at 1pm EDT on 13th August. The second one, Colour Management for the Rest of Us, starts on 19th August, at 1pm EDT; while the third online seminar, Cataloging in Lightroom: Organising Your Images for Travel, is scheduled for 27th August, 1pm EDT. Click through / read on for the details.
Unified Color Technologies have just released the latest upgrades to their professional-level HDR software lineup. New state of the art merge, alignment and deghosting algorithms have been added to the standalone application HDR Expose 3, while 32 Float - also upgraded to Version 3 - provides the same full range of image editing tools in a convenient Photoshop filter plug-in. Novelties include adaptive tone mapping, upgraded alignment capabilities, reengineered deghosting algorithms, a new file browser and and an improved Color Safe Dodge and Burn Brush that allows photographers to selectively lighten and darken areas of the image without changing or shifting colours. HDR Expose 3 is available for $119, while 32 Float V3 can be yours for $89. Customers who have purchased either piece of software are eligible to a free upgrade.
Modelled after the successful ShootNYC event launched in New York five years ago, the inaugural ShootLDN event will be taking place at The Old Truman brewery in London on 2 and 3 October. ShootLDN will host a comprehensive programme of photography-related lectures and workshops run by leading industry professionals, including photographers; photo agencies; picture editors; model agencies and fashion houses. As part of the free and interactive professional seminar and product demonstration programme Hasselblad has arranged for one of the four original Hasselblad Lunar Surface cameras (as used in training by astronaut teams, including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin) to be available at ShootLDN. At the two day show Hasselblad event partners, broncolor, Wacom, Adobe, EIZO and Epson will showcase key products to assist photographers with every stage of workflow and a special Adobe Mini-Theatre will host hourly tutorials and demonstrations, covering Photoshop, Lightroom and the Adobe Creative Cloud.
The major update to Adobe Creative Cloud that was unveiled at Adobe MAX in early May is now available. Adobe’s desktop tools, previously known as Creative Suite (CS), are now branded CC to reflect that they are an integral part of Creative Cloud. “We’ve added a ton of new innovation to all our CC desktop apps like Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. These apps include new features that increase productivity, streamline the effort to build mobile content and showcase some stunning new imaging and video science. And in addition to the traditional areas of innovation these apps are now connected to the powerful publishing and community features integral to the Creative Cloud experience,” said David Wadhwani, senior vice president and general manager, Digital Media, Adobe.
The Canon EOS 700D (called the Canon EOS Rebel T5i 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 700D / T5i 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 700D / T5i the best mid-range digital SLR camera on the market? Read our expert review to find out...
The Leica X Vario is a new large-sensor compact camera with a 16-megapixel imager and a 28-70mm (eq.) f/3.5-6.4 lens. Billed as "the world's first compact camera to combine a large, APS-C format, CMOS image sensor with a zoom lens," the Leica X Vario is capable of shooting high-resolution stills as well as 1080p Full HD videos. The optical formula of the lens comprises 8 elements in 6 groups, including an aspherical glass element. The suggested retail price of the camera is £2,150. The Leica X Vario is also available as a set with the X Vario camera protector and carrying strap in tan leather, for a kit price of £2,250. As expected based on the teaser campaign that preceded the launch, the Leica X Vario "Mini M" does not have an integrated eye-level finder - but you can buy an optional EVF for £380.
Leica today announced the new Leica S-Adapter C for the Leica S medium format system. "This adapter now permits the use of all lenses from the Contax 645 SLR system on Leica S, S2 and S2-P camera bodies," the company said in a statement. "This allows photographers to exploit the full potential of Contax 645 lenses and also expand their range of use." The Leica S-Adapter C supports all lens functions such as auto focus, manual focus with focus confirmation and automatic diaphragm control. The Leica S-Adapter C is now available from authorised Leica dealers. The suggested UK retail price is £1,400.
The Canon EOS 100D (called the Canon EOS Rebel SL1 in North America) is the smallest and lightest DSLR in the World. The tiny new Canon 100D / SL1 boasts 18-megapixels, full 1080p high-definition videos with continuous auto-focusing, and a touch-screen interface. Other key features of the 100D / SL1 include burst shooting at 4fps, a 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 100D / SL1 just too small for its own good? Read our expert review to find out...
British photographer Craig Easton has been announced as the overall winner of the Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) 2012 competition. Craig beat entrants from over 90 countries to win the world’s leading travel photography competition with four evocative, moody images of the ‘dreich’ - an old Scottish word to describe wet, miserable, dank weather - and an elegant series of four striking silhouettes of people in Paris. The New Talent award went to Alessandra Meniconzi (Switzerland), while 15-year-old Samuel Fisch (USA) has been named Young Travel Photographer of the Year.
Successor to the Leica S2, the new Leica S features the same 37.5-megapixel resolution but comes with a new image and sensor board that promises improved noise characteristics and an extended sensitivity range. In addition, the Leica S offers a range of new features - some of them unique -, predictive autofocus, integrated GPS, higher speed and enhanced handling. The Leica S is scheduled to be available in the UK at a suggested retail price of £16,000 including VAT from December 2012.
The Leica V-Lux 4 is a digital superzoom camera with a 25-600mm (eq.) f/2.8 lens. Featuring the same headline specifications as the Panasonic Lumix FZ200 and available from November, the Leica V-Lux 4 comes with a licence for the professional still picture and video processing software, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4, plus a two-year warranty and a one-year Leica UK ‘Passport’ (complimentary accidental damage cover) for £690 including VAT.
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...
GIMP Magazine, a brand new, free publication featuring works created by the worldwide community of GIMP users, is launching on 5th September. “Photography, digital arts, graphic arts, web design, tips & tricks, step by step tutorials, master classes, help desk questions, product reviews and so much more are showcased and explored in this quarterly publication,” says Steve Czajka, Managing Editor, GIMP Magazine. “We will be hosting a launch party on the popular Canadian Technology and Pop Culture Podcast called Dyscultured. Everyone is invited to attend this event and meet some of the GIMP Magazine team members, ask questions, and provide suggestions for upcoming issues! The event will be LIVE to the world!” The launch event is taking place from 10pm EST on 5 September 2012.
Following news that Hasselblad H4D medium format cameras will ship with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom from March 12, an update announcement reveals the software will be Adobe’s latest version, Lightroom 4. Chris Russell-Fish, Hasselblad Global Sales and Marketing Director said: “Integrating the Adobe platform with Hasselblad is a ground-breaking step. Changing platforms is always a challenge for time-starved photographers and digital operators but now all users can have the excellence of a Hasselblad image file married to the functionality and ease of use of Adobe Lightroom.”
PhotographyBB has announced the release of the 49th edition of the downloadable, free PhotographyBB Magazine. The 49th edition marks the 4 Year Anniversary for PhotographyBB, and to celebrate, there are several prizes for readers to win. This edition explores the topics of how photographers can discover and define their own artistic style, techniques for shooting at dawn, how to build a solid file-backup strategy, and more. PhotographyBB Magazine is available for free download through the PhotographyBB website.
Hasselblad and Adobe have signed an agreement to the effect that, beginning on the 12th March 2012, all newly purchased medium-format Hasselblad H4D cameras will include a fully functional copy of Lightroom at no extra charge. Chris Russell-Fish, Hasselblad Global Sales and Marketing Director said: “Integrating the Adobe platform with Hasselblad is a ground-breaking step. Changing platforms is always a challenge for time-starved photographers and digital operators but now all users can have the excellence of a Hasselblad image file married to the functionality and ease of use of Adobe Lightroom.”
Hasselblad was nevertheless quick to point out that it’ll remain committed to its proprietary Phocus software: “This new agreement is about providing choice for our customers,” Russel-Fish added.
Adobe Carousel is now available on iTunes and the Mac App Store. Comprising a set of client apps for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and Mac OS; Adobe Carousel is a brand new platform for viewing, editing, storing and sharing your photographs on all your compatible devices. Subscribers can import an unlimited number of JPEG files and install Adobe Carousel on as many of their devices as they want.. Customers receive a complimentary subscription for up to 30 days and can purchase a monthly or yearly subscription at any time from their iPad or iPhone. Through 31 January 2012, Adobe plans to offer Carousel for a special introductory price of US$59.99/year or US$5.99/month. Anyone subscribing at that price will be able to renew at that same price for an additional two years. At the conclusion of the introductory offer, Adobe Carousel will be US$99.99/year or US$9.99/month.
The new Olympus VR-320 is an affordable travel-zoom camera with a 12.5x, 24-300mm lens and a 14 megapixel sensor. Other key features of the Olympus VR-320 include a 3 inch screen, 720p HD video and a 1cm super macro mode. Priced at £159.99 / $179.99, is the VR-320 just too cheap to be true? Read our in-depth Olympus VR-320 review to find out...
Adobe has announced Adobe Carousel, a set of photo viewing, browsing and editing applications and cloud-based storage service for MacOS and iOS. “Setting up Adobe Carousel is easy,” Adobe says. “Customers will just download the apps, set up a subscription plan on their iPhone and iPad, and they are ready to go.” When users import their photo library into Adobe Carousel, or take new photos using Carousel on an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, those photos become automatically accessible on any supported device through Adobe’s cloud-based smart mesh technology. Once imported, any edits, deletions or additions to the library made on one device are automatically updated across all devices linked with the account. The Adobe Carousel apps will be available later this month. Through 31 January 2012, Adobe plans to offer Carousel for a special introductory price of US$59.99/year or US$5.99/month. Anyone subscribing at that price will be able to renew at that same price for an additional two years. At the conclusion of the introductory offer, Adobe Carousel will be US$99.99/year or US$9.99/month.
The Samsung NX200 is a new compact system camera that delivers professional standard photography. The NX200 features a 20.3 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, high speed capture (including 100ms Advanced Auto Focus), wide range ISO (100-12800), HD movie recording, and Samsung’s unique i-Function lens. Samsung have also unveiled four new lenses, which are the 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 ED OIS superzoom, 16mm F2.4 pancake, 60mm F2.8 Macro ED OIS SSA, and 85mm F1.4 ED SSA portrait lens.
The Samsung NX200 will cost £699 in a kit with the 18-55mm lens or the 20-50mm lens (there’s no body only option), and will be available in September. The 16mm pancake will cost £299, available imminently, and the 18-200mm retails for £699 and is available now. The 85mm and 60mm lenses will be released in October, pricing to be announced.
The new A35 is the most affordable SLT camera from Sony, removing the optical viewfinder and moving mirror of a DSLR and replacing them with an electronic viewfinder and a fixed semi-translucent mirror. Replacing the A33 model, the Sony A35 features an improved 16.2 megapixel sensor, 1080i HD video, a tilting LCD screen, 5.5fps burst shooting and a range of creative picture controls. Read our Sony A35 Review to find out if this is the best mid-range DSLR that money can buy...
Escalate LIVE “Be Boutique” is a new techniques film featuring five presentations by successful, respected professional photographers, a lively panel discussion lead by Dane Sanders and intimate tours of two thriving studios. Escalate LIVE “Be Boutique” is designed to help portrait photographers center their value and brand on their distinctive talents and signature style. The DVD series can be ordered today, or downloaded, for $99.
GigaPan Time Machine is a system that enables viewers to explore gigapixel-scale, high-resolution time-lapse videos. Created by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute, GigaPan Time Machine allows you to pan or zoom in and out of high-resolution panoramas while simultaneously “moving back and forth through time”. Viewers, for instance, can use the system to focus in on the details of a booth within a panorama of a carnival midway, but also reverse time to see how the booth was constructed. Or they can watch a group of plants sprout, grow and flower, shifting perspective to watch some plants move wildly as they grow while others get eaten by caterpillars. And so forth. You can view a few examples created with this system at the website below. Do note that you need Google Chrome or Apple Safari to take advantage of this technology.
X-Rite has announced three free webinars that have been developed to address specific colour management topics. On 7th April, photographers can learn how to reduce their image processing time and improve quality control in their raw workflow by attending the RAW COLOUR POWER webinar at 1pm or 3p EDT. Wednesday, 13th April will see wildlife and nature photographer Juan Pons deliver a lecture on wildlife photography in colour (at 1pm EDT). The third webinar, Beyond Monitor Calibration, will take place on 21st April at 1pm and 3pm. Advance registration is required through the website below.
Neovoyage has announced its 2011 photography tours. This summer, participants will embark on a fascinating journey across the Andes of Ecuador to explore one of the most diverse places on Earth. The 14-day Ecuador photography tour follows a path lined with volcanic peaks, Inca ruins and cloud-forest reserves between two UNESCO world heritage sites. In the fall, photographers will visit the remnants of mysterious cultures like the Chimu and the Nasca along the Peruvian coast. The 11-day Peru photography tour takes photographers to places where Peru shows its more authentic side as colonial towns coexist with ruins still being excavated. For more information, visit the website below.
The Canon EOS 600D (called the Canon EOS Rebel T3i in North America) is a new DSLR camera that boasts a class-leading 18-megapixels and full 1080p high-definition videos. Other key features of the 600D / T3i include continuous shooting at 3.7fps, a vari-angle 3-inch LCD screen with 1,040k dot resolution, ISO range of 100-12800, 14-bit image processing and Canon's Digic 4 processor. Is the Canon EOS 600D / T3i the best mid-range digital SLR camera on the market? Read our expert review to find out...
The Eizo ColorEdge CG275W is a 27-inch self-calibrating monitor for professionals in prepress, digital photography, graphic design, video editing and post-production. Featuring a built-in calibration sensor, the Eizo ColorEdge CG275W can be scheduled to self-calibrate outside of work hours when the computer is turned off. The monitor has a native resolution is 2560x1440 pixels, maximum brightness of 270 cd/m2, contrast ratio of 850:1, 6 ms gray-to-gray response time, and 178° viewing angles. The ColorEdge CG275W will begin shipping in late March.
The International Press Association (IPA) has announced a unique photo contest to help launch their new Member Support Blog on their website. There are no fees to enter, no contributions to the contests favourite charities, no restrictions on the subject matter, two levels of entry - pro and amateur - and “so many prizes that the chances of winning are quite good”, the Association says. First place winners will receive over $1800 in prizes each, second place winners receive over $500 in prizes and ten Honourable Mention winners will receive over $150 in prizes each. The contest will be using the viewer votes (25%) and the judges’ votes (75%) to determine the final winners. The submission deadline is 30th November.
The Complete National Geographic features 121 years of the iconic magazine’s content. Available in a box set of six DVD-ROMs and on hard drive, The Complete National Geographic includes every printed page of the more than 1,400 issues, including over 200,000 photographs, from October 1888 through December 2009. The 6-DVD-ROM Set costs $79.95 and the Hard Drive version $199.95.
The 32nd edition of the downloadable PhotographyBB Online Magazine is now available. The month’s edition examines the origins of noise in digital images and how best to minimize the effects of digital noise. This release also explores lighting techniques for product photography using a single light source, travel photography tips for protecting both the photographer and equipment, and a look at how photographers can make use of YouTube for learning, networking, and self-promotion.
AKVIS LightShop 3 lets you create an infinite number of amazing light effects. Version 3.0 has improved compatibility with Windows 7 and Mac OS X 10.6. 64-bit, and now works with Adobe Photoshop CS4/CS5 64-bit. AKVIS LightShop costs $97 USD.
The Imaging Science Group of the Royal Photographic Society (RPS) is organising another Good Picture Symposium, open to all, on selected technical aspects of digital imaging. As 2010 is the 100th anniversary of infrared photography, the organisers have taken the opportunity to celebrate this by including some IR topics including “Infrared in the Surveillance Society”, “Digital Infrared Thermography in Medicine”, “How Infrared Sensing Might Help Us Manage the Resources of Planet Earth”, “Infrared Imaging – The Fever Screening Dilemma” and “Practical Options For Infrared Photography”. Other topics include the use of colour appearance models in imaging and a look at Canon raw conversion options. The Good Picture Symposium is taking place on 4 December at the University of Westminster, Regent Street, London. Admission costs £64.
AKVIS has released ArtWork 3.5, a piece of software that transforms photos into paintings using various techniques. This latest version introduces the ability to save guiding lines to a file , making it easier to continue editing a photo later. When guiding lines are loaded, their size is adjusted automatically to the image. AKVIS ArtWork is available as a stand-alone application, as well as a plug-in to a photo editor. In version 3.5 the plugin version of AKVIS ArtWork is now 64 bit compatible. AKVIS ArtWork Home License (plug-in or standalone) sells for $72 USD. Registered users can upgrade to version 3.5 for free.
Website: AKVIS ArtWork
The Coolpix P100 is Nikon's new super-zoom compact camera for 2010, offering a 26x zoom lens with a massive focal range of 26-678mm. The 10 megapixel bridge-style Nikon P100 also features the ability to capture full 1080p high-definition movies in stereo sound, back illuminated CMOS sensor, 3-inch 460,000-dot rear screen, and fast 10fps burst shooting mode. Priced at £349.99 / $399.99, read our Nikon Coolpix P100 review to find out if it can challenge the likes of the Fujifilm Finepix HS10 and Panasonic DMC-FZ38.
The Canon EOS 550D (called the Canon EOS Rebel T2i in North America) is a new DSLR camera that boasts a class-leading 18-megapixel and the ability to shoot 1080p high-definition videos. Other key features of the 550D / T2i include continuous shooting at 3.7fps, a 3-inch LCD screen with 1,040k dot resolution, ISO range of 100-12,800, 14-bit image processing and Canon's Digic 4 processor. Is the Canon EOS 550D / T2i the best mid-range digital SLR camera on the market? Read our expert review to find out...
PhotographyBB has released the 26th edition of the free PhotographyBB Online Magazine. This edition examines some key traits necessary for those interested in becoming professionals, or “photo-preneurs.” Additionally, there are some helpful tutorials on conveying a sense of motion in night portraits, along with the top 5 landscape photography tips and techniques. The editorial team takes a look at the key differences, advantages, and disadvantages of shooting raw vs. JPEG, and presents readers with a very special in-depth coverage of the new Lightroom 3 Beta 2 release. PhotographyBB Online Magazine is available for free download through the PhotographyBB website.
Website: PhotographyBB
Olympus have expanded their Micro Four Thirds family with the launch of the E-P2. Heavily promoted in a series of eye-catching adverts fronted by none other than Kevin Spacey, the E-P2 adds a smattering of new features to the existing E-P1. These include an optional electronic viewfinder, two new Art Filters, the ability to record movies in Manual mode, and a sober all-black finish. Gavin Stoker finds out if the Olympus E-P2 really is a camera for everyone in our latest expert review.
Nik Software has today announced its Fall 2009 Webinar schedule. Comprised of seven hour-long educational webinars covering portrait, sports/action, wildlife, landscapes, weddings, commercial photography and Capture NX2, the webinars run from October to mid-December. In addition to these webinars, Nik Software currently offers over 70 brief online learning videos.
Mamiya has put a price tag on the recently announced 22-megapixel Mamiya DM22 medium-format digital SLR camera, which features true 16-bit analogue-to-digital conversion and a claimed 12-stop dynamic range. As befits a medium-format camera, the sensor is larger than 35mm full frame, measuring 48x36mm. The price of the Mamiya DM22 is $9,995 including a Mamiya 80mm f/2.8 D Series lens. Mamiya has also announced the pricing of the DM22’s sibling the DM28 ($14,990 including lens), which only differs in its sensor (which is a bit smaller at 44x33mm, but has 28 megapixels and offers a higher maximum ISO speed). Both cameras are fully compatible with any Mamiya AF focal plane series lens but, unlike their bigger brothers the DM33 and the DM56, apparently cannot take advantage of the 1/1600-second top shutter speed of the three new leaf-shutter lenses developed in close collaboration with Schneider Kreuznach.
Kelby Training LIVE has just announced Scott Kelby’s Photoshop for Digital Photographers one-day seminar tour. It includes five classes, covering editing images in Adobe Camera Raw, portrait retouching techniques, shooting and creating HDR images, printing techniques that will help you get what you see on screen, as well as Scott’s very own step-by-step Photoshop editing workflow from start to finish. The Scott Kelby’s Photoshop for Digital Photographers seminar tour officially debuts on Oct. 26 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Registrations are taken online at KelbyTrainingLIVE, or by calling 800-201-7323, Monday-Friday, 8:30am to 7:00pm EST. Following Boston, the new tour travels to Philadelphia on Nov. 2 at the Philadelphia Convention Center. The entire day of training is $99 USD or $79 USD for members of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP).
KelbyTraining LIVE has announced the addition of a brand new seminar tour for the Adobe Creative Suite – Adobe Creative Suite 4 Unleashed! – to its line up of live, one-day, regional photography and Adobe Photoshop seminar tours. Featuring National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) and Adobe Certified Instructors Dave Cross and Rafael “RC” Concepcion, the first Adobe Creative Suite 4 Unleashed! seminar debuts in Miami on Oct. 7 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Attendees will learn how to streamline their workflow with the powerful integration features of Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, and Acrobat. The entire full day of training is $49, or $39 for NAPP members, and includes a free Adobe CS4 Suite Integration DVD by Dave Cross. Registrations are taken online at KelbyTraining LIVE, or calling 800-201-7323, Monday-Friday, 8:30am to 7:00pm.
Based on the famous analogue M-series cameras, the Leica M8.2 is 10 megapixel digital rangefinder camera aimed firmly at the professional user. The £3900 / $5999 body-only M8.2 is a serious investment, and with Leica announcing its successor this week, the 18 megapixel full-frame M9, you could argue that its days are numbered. We find out if the M8.2 is still worth a look...
Leica has unveiled the Leica M9, an 18-megapixel, full-frame digital rangefinder camera. Currently the smallest full-frame digital camera in the world, the Leica M9 has a 23.9x35.8mm Kodak sensor with an IR cut filter but no anti-alias filter. The viewfinder has a magnification of 0.68x and offers automatic parallax correction. The rangefinder is of course coupled to the viewfinder. The Leica M9 has an electronically controlled, vertically running metal focal plane shutter, with a shutter speed range of 1/4000-32 seconds. Flash synchronisation is via a dedicated hot-shoe, with the x-sync speed being 1/180 second. A special discreet mode allows shutter cocking to be delayed until the photographer takes his finger off the shutter release button. The Leica M9 can shoot continuously at up to two frames per second, and records images on SD and SDHC memory cards, in a choice of DNG and JPEG formats. The suggested retail price of the Leica M9, which shall become available in the next couple of days, is £4,850.
The Leica X1 is a 12.2-megapixel compact camera with an unusually big, APS-C sized sensor and a fast wide-angle lens. It has a fixed-mount, fixed-focal-length Leica Elmarit 24mm (36mm equivalent) f/2.8 lens with high-speed autofocus, and a 23.6x15.8mm CMOS sensor with a 3:2 aspect ratio. The Leica X1 has all the manual control an advanced photographer can desire, from manual exposure to manual focus, but it also comes equipped with a number of automatic options. Touted as an ideal choice for available-light photography, the Leica X1 has a sensitivity range of ISO 100 to ISO 3200. With a maximum shutter speed of 1/2000th of a second and a continuous shootig rate of up to 3 frames per second, the Leica X1 is equally well suited to capturing fleeting, split-second moments. The availability of the Leica X1 is slated for December 2009. The recommended retail price is €1550 in the euro zone. Pricing for the UK, where the Leica X1 shall become available in January 2010 only, has not yet been revealed.
AKVIS Software has released AKVIS ArtWork 3.0, a program that lets you apply different painting techniques to digital pictures. Version 3.0 offers a new painting style – Pen & Ink, as well as the possibility of converting photos into Oil Paintings and Comics.The program combines advanced painting techniques with a touch of an artistic approach to ordinary digital snapshots, making your digital pictures look as if they were real oil paintings. The program lays brush strokes naturally using the original photo as a reference, allowing creative persons to touch-up the painting by selectively changing the direction of the strokes. Available in Mac and PC versions as a stand-alone or a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop, AKVIS ArtWork Home License sells for $72 USD, downloadable from http://akvis.com.
The Eizo ColorEdge CG243W is a new LCD monitor for pre-press, digital photography, video editing and post-production. This 24.1-inch widescreen monitor features an in-plane switching LCD panel with a native resolution of 1920x1200 pixels, and an aspect ratio of 8:5. The Eizo ColorEdge CG243W has a maximum brightness of 270 cd/m2 and a contrast ratio of 850:1. With a DisplayPort connection, the monitor accepts 10-bit PC video signals and can display 1.07 billion colours, 64 times more than the typical 16.7 million colours most screens are capable of displaying. The Eizo ColorEdge CG243W offers hardware calibration, so the monitor itself is calibrated rather than the computer’s graphics card. The monitor is now shipping and available for €2079.
Via photoscala
Update: we have added Eizo’s official, English-language press release issued on 24 September 2009.
The new Panasonic DMC-GF1 is the world’s smallest and lightest system camera with a built-in flash. Based on the Micro Four Thirds standard, the Panasonic GF1 weighs just 285g body-only and is 35% smaller than the DMC-G1. Standout features include the 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor, a built-in flash, 3 inch LCD with 460k dot resolution, Venus Engine HD image processor and in-built Dust Reduction system. The DMC-GF1 offers 8 artistic effects via the My Color mode, plus nine Film modes and 16 Scene modes, including a new Peripheral Defocus mode that keeps the subject in sharp focus while softening the focus around it. It can record 1280 x 720 high-definition video in the AVCHD Lite or Motion JPEG formats, and the GF1 can focus in 0.3 seconds via its contrast AF system. The Panasonic DMC-GF1 will be available in October. In the UK pricing is still to be announced. In the US the GF1 will ship in two kits, one with the new LUMIX G 20mm/F1.7 ASPH pancake lens, and the other with the existing 14-45mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. zoom lens, both priced at $900. An optional electronic external viewfinder is also available for $200.
In the wake of the recent price / availability announcements, Leica now unveiled the full specifications of the Leica S2 and four S-system lenses. The Leica S2 is a new interchangeable-lens DSLR with a sensor that is 56% bigger than a conventional “full-frame” imager. The first prototypes were shown to us at Photokina 2008, and availability is now slated for October 2009. Highlights include a 37.5-megapixel Kodak CCD with a claimed 12 stops of dynamic range, a metal focal-plane shutter with a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000 second, fast auto-focus, a large and high-eye-point TTL optical viewfinder with 0.86x magnification, interchangeable focusing screens, CompactFlash and SDHC compatibility, an HDMI port and a 3-inch rear screen with 460,000 pixels and optional sapphire glass. The Leica S2 will be available at an SRP of £15,996 from selected authorised dealers. The Leica S2-P, which includes the sapphire glass display and comes with a Platinum service package, is priced at £19,092.
Ricoh have just announced the Ricoh GR Digital III, a ten-megapixel “serious compact” with a 28mm equivalent f/1.9 lens. This lens makes it possible to shoot at a faster shutter speed than could be used on previous models, or to shoot at the same shutter speed but at a lower setting for ISO sensitivity. In addition, the new image processing engine promises better noise reduction. These improvements make for better low-light performance, and the autofocus system has also been tweaked to work faster in low light. There is a new “full-press snap” function to shoot at a preset distance for a one-push full-press of the shutter button, and the Dynamic Range Double Shot function first seen in the Ricoh CX1 has also found its way to the GRD III. Other improvements include a multi-pattern white balance system for shooting in mixed light, a shutter speed priority AE mode, a 3”, 920.000-dot rear LCD screen, expanded My Settings and enhanced expandability via the addition of a 21mm ultrawide conversion lens. The new GR Digital III will be available at £529.99 inc from the middle of August.
The Olympus E-P1 brings together the image quality and interchangeable lenses of a digital SLR, the video capability of a camcorder, and the size and portability of a point and shoot, all in one compact package. The first Micro Four Thirds model from Olympus is inspired by the popular 1950's PEN series of film cameras, but is very much a product of the new millennium, offering a wealth of up-to-date must-have features. Mark Goldstein finds out if the E-P1 really is all the camera you will ever need in our latest expert review.
The Kodak EasyShare Z980 is the latest super-zoom camera on the block, offering a 24x image-stabilized optical lens with a remarkable 26-624mm focal length. Other key features include a 1cm macro mode, electronic viewfinder, PASM shooting modes, external flash hotshoe and RAW file support. With an official price of $399 / £379, can the Kodak EasyShare Z980 challenge the likes of the Panasonic DMC-FZ28, Olympus SP-590UZ, Nikon Coolpix P90 and Canon PowerShot SX1/10 IS? Read our expert review to find out...
The Olympus E-620 is an affordable mid-range digital SLR camera that offers a lot of bang for your buck. The 12 megapixel E620 features built-in image stabilisation, a free-angle LCD screen, compact dimensions and light weight, 7-point autofocus system and 6 Art filters. Is the E-620 the best Olympus DSLR yet? Read our expert review to find out.
onOne Software has announced a new application to remotely control Canon EOS DSLR cameras using an iPhone or iPod Touch. The new DSLR Camera Remote for iPhone application allows photographers using a supported Canon EOS DSLR that is connected to a WiFi enabled computer to remotely control the settings of the camera, fire the shutter, review images, and even get a live preview. The software comes in two versions – the Professional edition, which is available for $19.99 with a limited time introductory price of $9.99, and the Lite edition, available for $1.99. The DSLR Camera Remote for iPhone may be purchased immediately from the App Store within Apple iTunes software.
Website: List of supported DSLR cameras
Viewbook.com has released an updated version of its online image presentation service and a refreshed website “to further empower visual creatives around the globe”. Designed for photographers, designers and graphic artists, Viewbook allows visual creatives to be organised, display and present their work simply and stylishly. Viewbook’s features also extend to presentation creation and client delivery, as well as online image archive and flexible presentation formats. In the coming months, more new features are planned, such as plug-ins for use with Adobe Lightroom2 and Apple Aperture.
Website: Viewbook
The Travel Photographer of the Year 2009 competition is now open for entries. Any photographer, amateur and professional, aged 17 years and over from any country can enter the three Portfolio categories and the One Shot category. The New Talent, First Shot and Young travel Photographer of the Year categories all have restrictions on entry as follows: New Talent is for photographic students, amateur or semi-professional photographers only. First Shot category is for amateur photographers only. Young Travel Photographer of the Year is for photographers aged 16 and under. Entries close on 22nd September 2009. The entry fee is £15 for each portfolio category, £20 for New Talent, £10 for One Shot and First Shot and free for Young Travel Photographer of the Year.
lynda.com has just launched its CS4 University online training courses. 28 training courses are available now with over 100 hours of instructional videos. lynda.com is also the exclusive in-the-box video training provider for Adobe Creative Suite 4. Lynda Weinman, co-founder of lynda.com, said, “As the software landscape continually evolves, a lynda.com Online Training Library subscription remains the most comprehensive and efficient way for designers, instructors, students, and hobbyists to keep their skill sets up to date.”
The catchily named Leica M8.2 is an upgraded version of the company’s M-series digital rangefinder camera. New additions to the Leica M8.2 include a extra-quiet, low vibration metal blade focal plane shutter, an ultra scratch-resistant sapphire crystal cover glass for the LCD screen, snapshot mode, “vulcanite” finish to the camera body, viewfinder bright-lines and a more compact, faster charger. The Leica M8.2 is available now for £3990 in the UK.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 features dual-monitor support, non-destructive localised image correction, and streamlined search capabilities. Lightroom 2 is Adobe’s first application to support 64-bit for Mac OS Microsoft Windows Vista operating systems, and also provides improved memory performance for dealing with large scale images. The new Local Adjustment Brush lets photographers fine-tune specific areas of an image to precisely adjust colour, exposure and tonal range without affecting other areas of the image. Adobe Lightroom 2 is available now, priced at £175 / $299 for new users, with an upgrade price of £69 / $99.
Essentials 2 for iPhoto is a collection of four software tools to correct color, blur a photo, add creative borders and resize digital images. “These tools are designed to allow amateur and advanced amateur photographers to quickly and easily correct color, creatively add blur effects to images, add realistic frame and borders and enlarge digital images to transform even ordinary snapshots into extraordinary images without having to spend hours in front of a computer.” said Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. Essentials 2 for iPhoto costs $59.95.
FocalPoint is now available as a software plug-in for Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. onOne Software’s FocalPoint is a selective focus and vignetting plug-in designed to help photographers easily blur and/or vignette areas of an image. “It’s just like having a lens inside of Photoshop. Users set the location of their ‘sweet spot’ of focus directly on their image and then control the amount, kind of blur used and even lighten or darken the edges quickly and easily.” said Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. The FocalPoint plug-in is available now for $159.95.
The Sanyo Xacti DMX-CA8 is a new waterproof hybrid digital camera/camcorder. Featuring JIS IPX5 and IPX8 waterproof ratings, the DMX-CA8 can be used underwater to a depth of 1.5-meters for 60 minutes or less. The Sanyo DMX-CA8 has an 8 megapixel CCD sensor, 5x zoom lens, and 2.5 inch LCD screen. On the video side, the DMX-CA8 can shoot 680×480 movies at 60fps, with 75 minutes or 200 still images promised from the lithium-ion battery. Currently only announced in Japan, the Sanyo Xacti DMX-CA8 will cost around around 50,000 yen / $500 / £250.
FocalPoint from onOne Software is a selective focus and vignetting plug-in designed to help photographers easily blur and/or vignette areas of an image. This new plug-in eliminates the need for photographers to purchase, carry and use special selective focus or tilt-shift lenses, filters or vignetting hoods. “It’s just like having a lens inside of Photoshop. Users set the location of their ‘sweet spot’ of focus directly on their image and then control the amount, kind of blur used and even lighten or darken the edges quickly and easily.” said Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. The FocalPoint plug-in will be available in April 2008 for $159.95.
London-based photographer Cat Vinton has become the first female overall winner of the international Travel Photographer of the Year competition. Cat’s beautiful panoramic images of the snowy Norwegian landscape and evocative shots of a Nomadic family won her the opportunity to photograph the Dalai Lama in India. Amateur and professional photographers from 51 countries competed for the £50,000+ prize package. The winning images can be seen at www.tpoty.com, and will be on display at the Exposure Gallery in London.
The Royal Photographic Society have released details about their range of Winter 2007 photography workshops. Topics include Studio Portraiture, Documentary Photography, Colour Management and Adobe Lightroom. All workshops are open to non-members and members of The Society, with most held at the RPS headquarters in Bath.
Photoshop Elements 6: The Missing Manual provides the best possible guidance to scrapbookers, photographers at every level, and budding graphic artists. Harp player Barbara Brundage clearly explains Photoshop Elements 6’s exciting array of new features, including the new Quick Edit function, Windows Vista compatibility, improved RAW conversion, a handy Quick Selection Tool, and more. “Elements is wonderful software, but there’s a lot going on there. I wanted to help people find their way around and to understand some of the great things they can do with the program.” commented Brundage. Photoshop Elements 6: The Missing Manual is available now and costs $39.99 USD, £24.99 GBP.
Eight of O’Reilly’s top authors will be in attendance at next week’s PhotoPlus International Conference and Expo in New York City. Katrin Eismann plans to share the secrets the best retouchers use to create flawless skin in her seminar titled “Skin, Skin, Skin.” David Pogue, O’Reilly’s Missing Manual series founder, will deliver a keynote talk about his four-month quest to determine, once and for all, just how important megapixels are in a digital camera. O’Reilly is also offering a 30 percent discount on a selection of their titles.
The Panasonic DMC-L10 is a new 10.1 megapixel DSLR camera with a unique 2.5 inch free angle LCD screen complete with full time live view. The successor to the L1, the Panasonic L10 is a Four Thirds System camera that’s available either body only or in a kit with the new Leica 14-50mm f/3.8-5.6 lens. Other standout features offered by the Panasonic DMC-L10 include Face Detection (up to 15 human faces can be detected simultaneously), Intelligent ISO Control, nine film modes which replicate analog film styles, and the Supersonic Wave Filter system to remove dust from the sensor. The Panasonic L10 will be available from October 2007.
I’m attending the Panasonic press conference at the IFA show in Berlin, Germany right now. Plus I’ve been given the unique opportunity to use the DMC-L10 on a shooting tour later today, so expect some exclusive product shots and a hands-on report to follow.
Update 1 - The L10 uses a newly developed Panasonic sensor, not the Olympus E-410 sensor that has been mistakenly reported elsewhere (source: Panasonic spokesperson, IFA press conference).
Update 2 - The UK price of the Panasonic L10 with the Leica 14-50mm kit lens has now been confirmed as £899.99. The US price is $1300.
The Canon iPF9000S and iPF8000S 60- and 44-inch large format printers offer a 40 percent increase in speed. The new S-series printers can render an A0-sized print (32.5” x 40.6”) in 4.9 minutes in Standard Mode on glossy photo paper.Both the Canon iPF9000S and Canon iPF8000S feature a high-capacity 80 GB hard drive so printers can queue more print jobs. Available in October 2007, the Canon iPF9000S and Canon iPF8000S will cost $14,995 and $5,995 respectively.
Phase One have released a Beta version of its Capture One 4 RAW workflow software. New features in Capture One 4 include High Dynamic Range, Variants, Web contact sheet and Multiple up viewing. The first look at Capture One 4 is available now at no cost until November 1st.
Photographer Stephen Johnson has just opened a new state of the art lab to help teach budding photography students. Throughout the year Stephen Johnson holds a variety of workshops for all levels of photographers, including classes on RAW files and fine-art printing.
Total Training Online is a new library of video tutorials for learning Creative Professional software applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Flash, Dreamweaver, and Illustrator. “Total Training Online marks Total Training’s continued commitment to providing top-notch educational resources to Adobe users. We’re pleased that Total Training is making its entry into the online video training market with its exceptional in-depth video training content to help customers quickly get up to speed and make the best use of the new Adobe Creative Suite 3.” said Caleb Belohlavek, director of product management for Adobe’s Creative Solutions. A sneak peek of the premium product to be rolled out later this month is available at www.totaltraining.com/GUEST.
Entries are now open for the 2007 international Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) competition, with over £50,000 worth of prizes on offer. TPOTY 2007 will be judged by a panel comprising expert photographers, image buyers, magazine editors and imaging experts. Entries for the competition are now open and close on September 19th.
The annual Photoshop World Conference & Expo takes place in Boston, US, from April 3rd to 6th, and some of O’Reilly Media’s bestselling photography authors will be hosting a series of talks. O’Reilly are also offering a 35 percent conference discount on every title in their range of books. Photoshop World attendees should head to Booth #203.
PMA 2007: HP have introduced a range of new products aimed at the digital photographer. HP DreamColor Technologies is the first integrated system that delivers the highest level of digital color consistency across a series of devices. The new HP Designjet Z3100ps GP Photo Printer is one of the first products to implement HP DreamColor. HP debuted the industry’s first digital camera to feature in-camera pet-eye fix, the HP Photosmart R837, whilst the HP Photosmart A440 Series Camera and Printer Docks are a complete photo system. Finally, HP’s Photosmart Essential 2.0 software has been revamped with a Vista-like user interface.
PMA 2007: Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended is a completely new edition of Photoshop which adds integration of 3-D and motion graphics, image measurement and analysis. Photoshop CS3 Extended also enables users to extract valuable quantitative and qualitative data from images. Both Photoshop CS3 and Photoshop CS3 Extended will be launched on March 27th 2007.
Corel Painter X, the world’s most powerful painting and illustration software, is now available for pre-order from www.corel.co.uk/painterx (shipping in English version late February 2007). Corel Painter X includes the RealBristle Painting System that provides an organic painting and illustration experience – right down to the individual bristles on the brush. Corel Painter X is £229 / €349 for full, £119 / €179 for upgrade. The Limited Edition Painter Can is available for £259 / €379.
Epson America has teamed up with ExpressDigital to introduce a new workflow and printing solution called the Epson Portrait Edition Series. The package includes either a Epson Stylus Pro 3800 or 4800 printer, ExpressDigital Darkroom Core Edition software, and a customized Web storefront. The Epson Stylus Pro 3800 Portrait Edition printer offers a complete large format in-house wedding and portrait printing solution for $1,495. The Epson Stylus Pro 4800 Portrait Edition is a high-performance printer featuring a built-in roll-feeder and paper tray cassette and is offered as a solution for $2,195.
Focus on Imaging 2007, Europe’s biggest annual imaging event, takes place as usual at the NEC in Birmingham, UK. It opens on Sunday, February 25th and runs until Wednesday, February 28th. Nikon will have an exciting new stand, which will enable more hands on contact with the products and allow visitors to get advice from the team of Nikon experts. A number of Nikon’s products which will be getting their exhibition debut at the show. PhotographyBLOG will be there to bring you all the latest news.
The Leica M8 digital rangefinder camera is announced today. The Leica M8 has a 10 megapixel sensor, focal factor of 1.33x and an ISO range of 160-2500. The LEICA M8 can be used with virtually all lenses in the Leica M range produced since 1954. The LEICA M8 will be available end of November 2006.
Leica Press Release
Leica Camera AG, Solms is exhibiting the new LEICA M8 at photokina in Cologne (26th September to 1st October 2006). The Leica M8 is the first digital camera to use the Leica viewfinder system. All the key characteristics of the analog Leica reporter’s camera such as the compact design, the exceptional picture quality in conjunction with the Leica M lenses and the unique picture composition using the Leica viewfinder have been seamlessly carried over into the digital world. This professional-standard digital camera “Made in Germany” uses an image sensor specially developed for the requirements of the Leica M system. Almost all Leica M system lenses made since 1954 are also suitable for digital photography, thanks to their high performance level. The combination of lenses, sensor and high-performance picture editing generates outstanding picture quality with a resolution of 10.3 million pixels.
The Leica Digilux 3 is announced today. Essentially a re-badged version of the Panasonic DMC-L1 (with some image processing changes), the Leica Digilux 3 therefore uses the Four Thirds system and is supplied in a kit with the Leica 14-50mm lens.
Leica Press Release
Leica Camera AG, Solms is exhibiting the new LEICA DIGILUX 3 at photokina in Cologne (26th September to 1st October 2006). The LEICA DIGILUX 3 is the first purely digital Leica mirror reflex system camera with exchangeable lenses, thereby opening up a third variety of free-standing camera system under the Leica name. As the first model of the new Leica D system, the LEICA DIGILUX 3 is fitted with a bayonet lens to the FourThirds Standard, the open systems standard for digital mirror reflex cameras. Together with the high-performance LEICA D VARIO–ELMARIT 2.8-3.5/14-50 mm ASPH exchangeable lens with a focal length range of 28 to 100 millimetres for the small picture system, this offers the photographer many possibilities for composition of individual pictures.
DxO Labs Press Release
DxO Optics Pro v4 Public Beta 2, available immediately, is localized for key markets, features film looks and includes the Adobe® Photoshop® plug-in.
New York, NY and Paris, France – Sept 15, 2006 – DxO Labs announces today availability of a free, Windows PC public beta 2 release of DxO Optics Pro v4 for all digital photographers to download from the DxO Labs Web site (www.dxo.com). DxO Optics Pro software improves the image quality of Digital Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras and advanced digicams. DxO Optics Pro is the award-winning digital image enhancement tool incorporating revolutionary optics, noise and exposure corrections in an easy-to-use, feature rich application for Mac and PC users.
O’Reilly Press Release
Sebastopol, CA—In the city where gambling is a way of life, digital photographers are betting they’ll learn something new and exciting at this week’s Photoshop World Expo in Las Vegas. And Thursday’s keynote address puts the spotlight on O’Reilly author Eddie Tapp and his official induction into the Photoshop Hall of Fame. “This is the greatest honor of my entire career,” says Tapp. A popular lecturer on digital imaging, Tapp is widely admired for his knack for making the photo editing process easier and more transparent. His newly released “Photoshop Workflow Setups” (O’Reilly, US $29.99)—the first in a five-book series—shows users how to organize an efficient and user-friendly workspace.
Imatest Press Release
Gamutvision ICC profile visualization/analysis software released
Boulder, Colorado - August 23, 2006 - Imatest LLC announces the release of Gamutvision, a powerful program for visualizing digital color workflows and color management operations. Gamutvision is much more than just a gamut viewer. You can view gamut mappings and rendering intents in depth, and you can preview the effects of workflow settings and materials on your final output.
DxO Labs Press Release
DxO Labs Announces Availability of DxO Optics Pro v4 Public Beta Release - Automatic image enhancement software introduces advanced color features, new optical corrections, improved workflow and speed as well as plug-in compatibility with Adobe Photoshop
New York, NY and Paris, France – August 3, 2006 – DxO Labs announces today availability of a free, Windows PC public beta release of DxO Optics Pro v4 for all digital photographers to download from the DxO Labs Web site (www.dxo.com). DxO Optics Pro software improves the image quality of Digital Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras and advanced digicams. DxO Optics Pro is the award-winning digital image enhancement tool incorporating revolutionary optics, noise and exposure corrections in an easy-to-use, feature rich application for Mac and PC users. “DxO Optics Pro v4 brings a wealth of true innovations including faster throughput and significantly improved control over color and optical performance,” said Luc Marin, vice president of the Photography Business Unit at DxO Labs. “In the eight months since releasing the previous (v3.5) DxO Optics Pro software, our engineers have worked diligently to add the kinds of improvements photographers world wide have been requesting.”
O’Reilly Press Release
Adobe Lightroom Adventure 2006: The Ultimate Photographer’s Road Test
Sebastopol, CA—Renowned photographer and author Mikkel Aaland is the quintessential early adopter, always one of the first to master new digital photography software—and to wring every bit of functionality out of it in the process. Shortly after the public beta release of Adobe (R) Lightroom (TM) software, a digital imaging workflow solution for professional photographers, he devised the ultimate road test to put Lightroom through its paces in the field: Adobe Lightroom Adventure 2006.
Aaland invited eleven acclaimed photographers to join him in Iceland, where the long midsummer days are suffused in some of the most spectacular light on the planet. From July 28 to August 5, 2006, this intrepid crew—joined by three top Icelandic photographers—is shooting by day and using Adobe Lightroom beta to import, select, develop, and showcase their large volume of digital images each night. Adobe is represented by four imaging specialists who will both shoot and assist other photographers as they work with both the Lightroom and Photoshop applications. The journey and a sampling of the resulting photographs are chronicled in the Lightroom Adventure blog at http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/adventure . And Aaland is capturing the lessons learned in the field for his book on Adobe Lightroom, to be published by O’Reilly Media in early 2007.
Adobe has released an FAQ which provides some more information about its recent acquisition of Pixmantec.
Q: Why has Adobe acquired Pixmantec?
A: One of the great advantages of working with raw images is that, as the technology for raw processing continues to improve, the quality you can bring out of even your older images continues to improve as well. It is for this reason that Adobe continues to invest in our own raw processing technology. The acquisition of Pixmantec will allow Adobe to accelerate our rate of improvement and sets us up to deliver the world’s best raw processing solutions. Combining the best of Adobe’s existing raw technology with the best of Pixmantec’s technology will deliver noticeable improvements to photographers. More importantly, the expertise of Pixmantec founders Kenneth Tang Laerke and Michael Jonsson—developed through their work creating the RawShooter products as well as through their work on Capture One software—will be a great complement to our own expertise and promises substantial technology advances in the future.
Q: What are the plans for the RawShooter line of products?
A: The RawShooter | Premium product has been discontinued and is no longer available for sale. The free RawShooter | Essentials product will remain available as a download from the Adobe Web site until shortly after Lightroom 1.0 is released as a shipping product. The RawShooter | Color Engine will be taken off the market as soon as existing obligations to partners are fulfilled.
Adobe UK Press Release
Adobe Further Extends Leadership in Digital Photography Raw File Workflows - Adobe Acquires Technology Assets of Pixmantec ApS
LONDON — June 26, 2006 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced it has acquired the technology assets of Pixmantec ApS, makers of digital imaging software that provides advanced workflow management and processing capabilities for digital camera raw files. The acquisition strengthens Adobe’s leadership position in raw processing.Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. “With high quality digital cameras now within reach of every photographer, customers are gravitating to raw file formats that allow them to get more control over final results,” said John Loiacono, senior vice president of Creative Solutions at Adobe®. “By combining Pixmantec’s raw processing technology and expertise with our own, we’re continuing to deliver on the promise that even your existing raw files can be processed with increasing quality as our software technology evolves.”
Nikon UK Press Release
Thursday June 1, 2006 - Nikon’s latest digital SLR, the D2xs, combines 12.4 effective megapixels, superb precision and high speed for a powerful professional performance. Nikon UK is pleased to announce the introduction of the D2xs professional digital SLR camera, following the success of the award-winning Nikon D2x. While the Nikon D2xs shares many features with its predecessor, the new model boasts an array of refinements that enhance performance and improve the user experience. Such features include, refined viewfinder performance; a new LCD with a 170-degree wide viewing angle; significantly increased battery life; and a wide range of firmware enhancements.
Hasselblad Press Release
Hasselblad Celebrates Centenary of Founder’s Birth with Launch of Limited Edition Hasselblad 503CWD Digital Camera
In recognition of the centenary of Victor Hasselblad’s birth on March 8, 2006, Hasselblad today unveiled the Hasselblad 503CWD Anniversary Kit, a prestigious high-end photographic system that offers state-of-the-art digital capture technology elegantly integrated with a classically designed Hasselblad 503CW body. Combining the rugged reliability of the black and chrome V System body, with its range of high performance, central shutter-based lenses, and the technology of Hasselblad’s new CFV digital back, the exclusive Hasselblad 503CWD perfectly melds the heritage of the old Hasselblad with the focus of the new Hasselblad on digital high-end photography to create a new digital workhorse. Of undoubted appeal to the Hasselblad connoisseur, the camera delivers the perfect blend of versatility and simplicity in a compact, professional tool that gives the user complete control over digital image capture and is a pleasure to operate.
PMA 2006: Adobe UK Press Release
Adobe Highlights Lightroom Beta and Photoshop CS2 at PMA 2006 Convention and Trade Show - Lightroom Public Beta 2.0 Photography Community and Photoshop CS2 Ecosystem Partners Rally to Support Digital Imaging Innovation
London. — Feb. 27, 2006 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced wide-spread support from the photography community and ecosystem partners for Adobe® Lightroom™ Public Beta 2.0 and Photoshop CS2 software. With two open and extensible architectures, both applications allow for new, customisable workflows and innovative plug-ins and devices. “The inspiration for the development of Lightroom Beta and the exploration of new directions for Photoshop has come from our customers and ecosystem partners,” said Deborah Whitman, vice president of product management for Digital Imaging at Adobe. “There has been a flurry of activity in the Lightroom Beta forums and it’s exciting for us to watch the beta evolve as photographers help us build an application tailored to their needs.”
PMA 2006: The Canon EOS 30D is announced today. Improvements over the 20D include a 2.5 inch LCD, spot metering, Picture Style pre-sets and a few other minor tweaks. The Canon 30D will be available from March 2006, priced at body only £1099.99 / €1599.99, plus EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 (non USM) lens £1179.99 / €1749.99.
Canon UK Press Release
Canon upgrades best selling EOS 20D
Canon is pleased to announce the new EOS 30D, replacing the award winning EOS 20D. Retaining the 5fps, 8.2 Megapixel performance of its predecessor, the upgraded camera enjoys a larger, wider viewing angle 2.5” LCD, extended 100,000 shutter cycle durability, spot metering, and a variety of refinements designed to enhance the photographic experience. Targeted at an increasingly discerning population of serious creative photographers, the Canon 30D replaces a camera that already claims a significant share of the Western Europe D-SLR market, which grew by 120% in the past 12 months. “A rapidly expanding population of serious and semi-commercial creative photographers is helping drive EOS growth,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging Europe. “As well as putting many high-end pro features into their hands, the EOS 30D becomes a launching pad into the world’s most comprehensive interchangeable lens system and huge range of flash units and accessories.”
Datacolor Press Release
Datacolor Brings Consumers “Digital Darkroom In a Box” For Complete Color Accuracy On Monitors and In Print At CES 2006 - ColorVision Spyder2 Plus Showcased at LVCC, Booth25754, South Hall No. 2
LAS VEGAS, NV– The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) – January 3, 2006 – Datacolor, an internationally known name in color technology, showcases ColorVision® Spyder2Plus™ at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Booth 25754, South Hall No. 2 (Ground Level), January 5 – 8, 2006.
ColorVision Spyder2 Plus (The Digital Darkroom in a Box™) is the latest color calibration innovation from the world color technology leader. It provides a full suite of tools for anyone working with digital
images and is frustrated by color discrepancy between the monitor image and final printout.
Pixmantec Press Release
ANNOUNCING THE ULTIMATE RAW WORKFLOW TOOL - $59.00 OCTOBER ONLY!
Copenhagen, October 28th 2005: Danish digital imaging software specialists Pixmantec announce the release of the latest addition to their Photographers’ Toolbox applications for the camera RAW format, RawShooter | premium 2006. Building on the incredible success of the FREE RawShooter | essentials 2005 product (now with several hundred thousand copies installed worldwide), RawShooter | premium 2006 provides unsurpassed RAW workflow functionality and professional image quality at an unbeatable competitive price. In addition to a state of the art feature set, RawShooter | premium 2006 adds camera RAW support for several new DSLRs including the Canon EOS 5D and Canon EOS 1D II N.
Adobe UK Press Release
Adobe Photographers Directory Expands its Global Reach to Include Thousands of Pro Photographers
Updated Directory Provides Designers and Art Directors with Access to Thousands of Professional Photographers Worldwide
London — Oct. 20, 2005 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced that thousands of professional photographers are accessible to the creative community through an expanded update to its worldwide Photographers Directory. The Photographers Directory is now highlighted in the Favourites section of the Adobe Bridge feature in Adobe Creative Suite 2 and Photoshop® CS2 software and is also accessible from the Adobe Web site. Adobe has teamed up with nearly 20 professional photography associations worldwide, making it easy to find the right photographer without interrupting the flow of the overall design process and providing photographers with a global network to showcase their work and attract new clients.
The Olympus E-500 digital SLR camera is announced today. The Olympus E500 is an 8 megapixel DSLR with a 2.5 inch LCD screen in a body with a classic penta-prism design. A unique Supersonic Wave Filter eliminates dust problems and the E-500 also offers improved metering from a 49 area sensor. The Olympus E-500 will be available at the end of October, with the standard kit costing around £600 and the double zoom lens kit costing around £650.
Olympus UK Press Release
Classic design with a futuristic edge - Olympus announce the E-500
London, 26 September 2005, Digital SLR photography is gaining in popularity as more and more people become hooked on the higher quality and flexibility that only an SLR camera can offer. Olympus today announces the E-500 - its impressive new addition to the E-System SLR range.The Olympus E-500 will be available by the end of October.
The Ricoh GR Digital is announced today. The Ricoh GR Digital is an 8 megapixel compact digicam based on the GR Series of 35mm compact film cameras. The GR Digital has a a F2.4 fixed focal length lens equivalent to 28mm and a new GR Engine image-processing system. The Caplio GR Digital will be available from October for £399.99.
Ricoh UK Press Release
Ricoh announces the GR Digital Professional Grade High Resolution Compact Digital Camera
Northampton 2005. September 13 - Ricoh announced today the launch of the GR Digital, a newly developed professional-grade high-resolution compact digital camera. In addition to a CCD with 8,130,000 effective pixels, the new digital camera boasts superb resolution through a newly developed high-performance lens, image-processing algorithms, and other innovations, as well as low noise and low chromatic aberration.
The new GR Digital inherits the superb image quality that made the award winning GR Series (first launched in 1996) of 35mm compact film cameras so popular, as well as the depictive performance to satisfy professional photographers, distilled into a compact 25-mm thin body.
With a high-quality feel and superb expandability, this is the perfect tool for both professional photographers and advanced amateurs.
O’Reilly Press Release
Inspiration and Instruction for Creating Spectacular Panoramas
Farnham, UK—“A beautiful photograph—whether panoramic or not—is born of one-third technique and two-thirds creativity,” says Sacha Popovic, one of the eight visionary photographers showcased in the new “Assembling Panoramic Photos: A Designer’s Notebook” (O’Reilly, US $19.95). A one-of-a-kind collection of panoramic photos by renowned French artists, this book serves as both creative inspiration and serious technique training for amateur and professional photographers, graphic designers, and digital artists.
Microsoft has announced that it will incorporate native support for RAW files in the next release of Windows, codenamed Longhorn. Microsoft is working with a number of digital camera manufacturers, including Adobe, Canon, Fujifilm and Nikon, “to provide the best digital photography experience for Windows consumers”.
At the same time Microsoft have also announced the Microsoft RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer for Windows XP, which will allow you to view thumbnails and preview and print Nikon and Canon RAW files from Windows Explorer in Windows XP.
Microsoft Press Release
Microsoft and Imaging Industry Leaders Unveil Support for Digital Camera RAW in Windows
Adobe, Canon, Fujifilm and Nikon are working with Microsoft to provide seamless digital camera RAW support in Windows.
REDMOND, Wash. - June 1, 2005—Microsoft Corp., together with leading companies in the digital imaging industry, today announced enhancements to the family of Windows® operating systems that will enable consumers to easily work with RAW files in current and future versions of Windows. Working closely with digital imaging industry leaders including Adobe Systems Inc., Canon Inc., Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd. and Nikon Corp., Microsoft plans to deliver native support for digital camera RAW images in the next major version of Windows, code-named “Longhorn.”
Adobe Stock Photos is introduced as part of Adobe Creative Suite 2. Adobe Stock Photos is accessed through Adobe Bridge, anew version of the File Browser, and contains more than 230,000 royalty-free images from five elite stock photography providers. Adobe Stock Photo image pricing is competitive with the prices that are available directly from the participating stock photography library providers.
Adobe UK Press Release
All-New Adobe Stock Photos Service Gives Access to Top Image Libraries
More Than 230,000 Royalty-Free Images Available for Purchase Directly Within Adobe Creative Suite 2
SAN JOSE, Calif. — April 4, 2005 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced Adobe® Stock Photos, a new stock photography service that offers designers one-stop shopping for high-quality, royalty-free images for layout and design. Adobe Stock Photos is available in Adobe Creative Suite 2 Premium and Standard Editions, Adobe Photoshop® CS2, Adobe InDesign® CS2, Adobe Illustrator® CS2 and Adobe GoLive® CS2 (all announced today). Adobe Stock Photos provides a single destination point to access hundreds of thousands of images from some of the world’s leading stock photography providers, including: Photodisc® by Getty Images; Comstock Images® by Jupitermedia®; Digital Vision®; imageshop™ royalty free by zefaimages™; and amana.
Adobe Press Release
Adobe Photographers Directory to Connect Pro Photographers With Creative CommunityNew Directory Within Adobe Software Provides Creative Professionals with Ready Access to Freelance and Independent Photographers
SAN JOSE, Calif. — March 29, 2005 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced its plans to launch the Adobe Photographers Directory, a listing of professional photographers accessible directly from within Adobe’s creative professional products. The Adobe Photographers Directory will be initially available in North America and over time will be extended to include photographers from other markets.
Adobe will be working closely with the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) to populate the new directory. As charter members of the directory, ASMP also launched a Web site today detailing how photographers can sign up to participate at www.asmp.org/adobe . In addition, Adobe will work with the Advertising Photographers of America (APA) and other associations to ensure the Adobe Photographers Directory is a comprehensive professional photography resource.
Adobe Press Release
Adobe Photographers Directory to Connect Pro Photographers With Creative CommunityNew Directory Within Adobe Software Provides Creative Professionals with Ready Access to Freelance and Independent Photographers
SAN JOSE, Calif. — March 29, 2005 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced its plans to launch the Adobe Photographers Directory, a listing of professional photographers accessible directly from within Adobe’s creative professional products. The Adobe Photographers Directory will be initially available in North America and over time will be extended to include photographers from other markets.
Adobe will be working closely with the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) to populate the new directory. As charter members of the directory, ASMP also launched a Web site today detailing how photographers can sign up to participate at www.asmp.org/adobe . In addition, Adobe will work with the Advertising Photographers of America (APA) and other associations to ensure the Adobe Photographers Directory is a comprehensive professional photography resource.
Corel Press Release
Corel Expands Camera Raw Support with RawShooter essentials 2005 from Pixmantec
Free Software Automates Batch Downloads, Saving Photographers Time and Money While Providing Maximum Control Over Digital Images
Orlando, FL- PMA- February 20, 2005 - Corel Corporation announced that, starting today, it will offer RawShooter essentials 2005 as a free download from its website at www.corel.com/downloads. Developed by Denmark-based Pixmantec, RawShooter essentials 2005 enables photographers to automatically import and convert large batches of camera RAW images, saving them time and money with powerful, easy-to-use tools that previously cost hundreds of dollars. RawShooter essentials 2005 works with leading digital imaging software including Corel’s Paint Shop Pro, Paint Shop Pro Studio, Paint Shop Photo Album, and Corel PHOTO-PAINT.
HP have announced several new products today; the HP Photosmart R717, M417, M22 and M23 Digital Cameras, HP Designjet 90 printer, HP Photosmart 8750 Professional Photo Printer and HP Photosmart BMW Williams.F1 Team Special Edition Digital Camera.
HP Press Release
New solutions offer users quality, ease of use and affordability
PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 18, 2005
In advance of the annual Photo Marketing Association (PMA) show in Orlando, Fla., HP today announced several new offerings designed to further the company’s leadership in the digital photography market by delivering high-quality, easy-to-use and affordable solutions for everyone from beginners to pros.
Highlighting this news, HP announced its entry into the $20 billion-plus advanced amateur market with the introduction of the industry’s first nine-ink color and black-and-white photo printer that produces finished, professional-quality photos up to 13 x 19-inches.
Nikon D2Hs is announced today. The Nikon D2Hs is a new version of the Nikon D2H digital SLR camera. The 4 megapixel D2Hs adds a number of improvements including 8 fps for a continuous burst of up to 50 images, IEEE802.11b/g Wireless Transmitter WT-2/2A support, a higher resolution LCD screen. The D2Hs also adds support for GPS devices, 3D-Color Matrix Metering II and support for the sYCC color profile.
Nikon Press Release
The professional digital SLR for action and sports, featuring ultra-high speed, high image quality, and maximum efficiency
TOKYO – Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the introduction of a professional digital SLR camera that delivers high speed, high precision, and improved handling for action photography: the Nikon D2Hs.
Nikon D2HsSince the launch of the D1 series and successful introduction of the Nikon DX Format in 1999, Nikon has been conducting extensive research into the needs of photographers in every field and discipline. This research, coupled with painstaking analysis of feedback from Nikon users worldwide, has led to a string of technological and design innovations for the Nikon DX Format aimed at enhancing system performance for the serious photographer.
ColorVision Spyder2 Plus has been announced by Datacolor ahead of PMA 2005. Dubbed the “Digital Darkroom in a Box”, Spyder2 Plus is a suite of tools for colour calibration and digital imaging. ColorVision Spyder2 Plus has a recommended price of $269.
Datacolor Press Release
Datacolor Announces ColorVision Spyder2 Plus, The ‘Digital Darkroom in a Box’ Provides ‘Start to Finish’ Accurate And Affordable Color on Monitors and in Print
ORLANDO, FL, Photo Marketing Association Show (PMA) – February 19, 2005 – Datacolor, a world color technology leader, today announced ColorVision® Spyder2 Plus™ (“The Digital Darkroom in a Box™”), a complete digital package for on screen and final output color accuracy. This new PANTONE® COLORVISION® product debuted today at the photo industry’s premiere press event, SNEAK PEAK, at the International PMA trade show, which runs from February 20 - 23 in Orlando, Florida. (ColorVision Booth No. 1908.)
ColorVision Spyder2 Plus provides a full suite of tools for anyone working with digital images and is frustrated by color discrepancy between the monitor image and final printout. Based on ColorVision’s award-winning color display and output technology, Spyder2 Plus is combined (for FREE) with the latest digital imaging software from Adobe®–its hot new PhotoShop® Elements 3.0.
Epson America Press Release
Popular Epson Online Experience Digital Printing Course Now Available via Authorized Photo Dealers
Unique On-Demand Program Enables Photo Enthusiasts and Advanced Amateurs to Learn Digital Printing Secrets of the Pros at Home at Their Own Pace
LONG BEACH, Calif.—(Business Wire)—Jan. 18, 2005—In response to the ongoing demand for high-quality education in digital photography, Epson America Inc. has begun offering its Online Experience digital photography and printing program via authorized photo dealers, making it even easier for photo enthusiasts and advanced amateurs to participate in the valuable on-demand program. This unique program offers participants expert techniques, valuable tips and insider secrets the pros use to create spectacular digital prints.
Epson America Inc. Press Release 21/10/04
THE EPSON R-D1 - THE WORLD’S FIRST RANGEFINDER DIGITAL CAMERA BEGINS SHIPPING IN UNITED STATES ON NOV. 1
New Digital Rangefinder System is the First Digital Camera to Support L/M-Mount Lenses
LONG BEACH, Calif., Oct. 21, 2004 - Epson America Inc. has achieved another digital photography breakthrough with the introduction of the EPSON R-D1-the world’s first rangefinder digital camera. This camera was introduced in Japan earlier this year and will now be shipping in the United States in early November.
The EPSON R-D1 marks a significant milestone in the industry by combining the classic feel and precision engineering of a traditional rangefinder camera with the latest digital technology. It is the first digital camera allowing photographers to use revered L- and M-mount lenses.
The EPSON R-D1 links the future with the past - a new digital camera with a classic rangefinder feel. The EPSON R-D1 is comprised of a magnesium alloy exterior and an aluminum die cast body, combining digital technology with the traditional feel of a finely tuned instrument. The camera features a 6.1 megapixel APS C-size CCD sensor with a 1.53 magnification factor for an image resolution up to 3008 x 2000 pixels, easily producing output of 16” x 20” and beyond. The Epson R-D1 supports a RAW mode as well as two JPEG modes. Both JPEG modes incorporate PRINT Image Matching II technology for optimal prints.
ColorVision Press Release 28/09/04
For Professionals Who Can’t Leave Digital Imaging To Chance
At Photokina September 28 through October 3rd at the Professional Imaging Hall
No.14.2 Aisle `L’ Booth Nr.040.
COLOGNE, GERMANY - September 28, 2004 - ColorVision, the digital imaging unit of Datacolor today announce at the PHOTOKINA international tradeshow an updated SpectroPRO2 Suite. This Spectro based product is the most inclusive solution for professionals who depend on accurate monitor calibration and printer profiling. SpectroPRO2 Suite has all the tools for high-level color control, professional monitor calibration, outstanding Spectro-built printer profiles and sophisticated profile editing.
Fujifilm UK Press Release 23/09/04
Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro: the digital SLR that’s tuned for image quality
Release Date: 23 September 2004
Any photographer who has thought hard about their choice of film, and whose work is geared towards ultimate image quality, will understand the appeal of the Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro.
Representing the company’s pursuit of film photography standards for the digital world, the FinePix S3 Pro introduces Fujifilm’s unique Super CCD SR II - dual pixel technology that is technically inspired by the structure of silver halide crystals in colour negative film.
The new sensor produces 12.34 million effective pixels in 6.17 locations, combining 6.17 million high-sensitivity S-pixels and the same number of low-sensitivity R-pixels. Thanks to a newly developed image processor, the FinePix S3 Pro achieves exceptional image quality with a fourfold increase in dynamic range over non-SR Super CCD sensors, rich colour reproduction, high signal to noise ratio (lower noise at higher sensitivities) and tonality that was previously impossible to generate with digital cameras.
The FinePix S3 Pro’s designers have been able to make full use of Fujifilm’s extensive colour film expertise. For instance, rather than force photographers to shoot in RAW mode and spend time on an extensive workflow process, Fujifilm has introduced Film Simulation Modes, dynamic range presets and colour space selection.
Nikon UK Press Release 16/09/04
Nikon are pleased to announce the D2X, a new professional digital SLR camera which delivers 12.4 effective megapixels for both high-precision and high-speed performance.
Since the launch of the D1 series in 1999, all Nikon digital SLR cameras from consumer-class to professional models, have utilized Nikon DX-format image sensors of the same size. Following in the footsteps of the D2H, the D2X provides the same performance and design innovations combined with a Nikon DX-format image sensor that delivers a higher pixel-count. Improved image quality is achieved by incorporating a new CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor with an effective pixel-count of 12.4 megapixels.
Added to this, shooting speed in continuous shooting mode has been increased by using a 4-channel output method with the improvement of the speed of transferring image data from the image sensor to a memory card. This improvement allows the D2X to capture 12.4 megapixel JPEG images or RAW image at a rate of 5 frames per second in continuous shooting mode. Continuous shooting at a rate of up to 8 frames per second is possible by using a High Speed Cropped function that crops the center of an image at 6.8 megapixel resolution.
In addition to the new dual-area image sensor, all image-processing functions have been either newly developed or refined. Tone characteristics have been improved with both analog and digital processing for optimum colour distribution. Moreover, the enhanced accuracy of digital processing in the ASIC provides smoother shading in gradual colour changes, important for subjects such as a blue sky with very subtle tone changes within the blue range.
James W. Bailey Press Release 07/09/04
DOES DIGITAL MEDIA SPELL THE DEATH OF 35mm FILM AND ITS AFFORDABLE ACCESSIBILITY TO POOR AND MARGINAL ARTISTS AROUND THE WORLD? AN EXPERIMENTAL ARTIST FROM MISSISSIPPI OFFERS HARSH WORDS OF CRITICISM FOR DIGITAL ARTISTS, THE GLOBAL MANUFACTURERS OF DIGITAL MEDIA AND THE CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUMS, CURATORS AND ART CRITICS THAT CHAMPION THE INTERNATIONAL DIGITAL ART DIVIDE
(Reston, Va.) Last year in the United States, for the first time in the history of photography, camera retailers sold more digital cameras than traditional 35mm film-based cameras. Within a few short years many film photographers think it is very likely that film will vanish from your local camera supply store. The current sweeping revolution of DVD replacing VHS as the preferred consumer standard has clearly established the supremacy of digital media in the market place. As digital technology rapidly replaces conventional film techniques and equipment, an experimental artist from Mississippi, doggedly resists the temptation to “go digital,” and in a style worthy of a New Orleans jazz funeral actually celebrates the death of 35mm film.
Artist James W. Bailey calls his violent style of photographic art “Rough Edge Photography.” He buys damaged cameras in thrift stores and mutilates his film and prints. Lenses are scratched, holes may be punched in the film canisters with a needle, and prints may be burned and torn, along with the original negatives. “I push found and discarded equipment to the extreme. I like the radical imperfections, the accidental quality that can be found in mistreating the equipment, negatives and prints,” Bailey says. “For me, classic photography had become too weighted down by its own rules, conventions and practices. This, combined with the impulse among so many photographers to abandon film and rush toward digital, made me want to explore 35mm film in a radically brutal fashion. ?Rough Edge Photography? is the result of my wanting to hang on to film until the bitter end.”
Konica Minolta Europe have distributed a very interesting interview about the imminent Konica Minolta Dynax 7 DSLR, which all registered users of the Konica Minolta Photo World website received. I’ve posted the full text of the interview below…
Konica Minolta Europe Interview Text
Since Konica Minolta Europe is constantly receiving many requests for updates about the development status of the Dynax 7 Digital, Clemens Helberg, Marketing Manager from Konica Minolta Europe, has gained more information from the Japanese Development Centre.
He was able to ask Keiichi Ishizuka, General Manager of the Konica Minolta Development Center most of the questions posed by registered users of the Konica Minolta Photo World website.
Since Konica Minolta Europe is constantly receiving many requests for updates about the development status of the Dynax 7 Digital, Clemens Helberg, Marketing Manager from Konica Minolta Europe, has gained more information from the Japanese Development Centre.
He was able to ask Keiichi Ishizuka, General Manager of the Konica Minolta Development Center most of the questions posed by registered users of the Konica Minolta Photo World website.
HP Press Release 02/06/04
Company declares 2004 “the year digital color goes mainstream”
PALO ALTO, Calif., June 2, 2004
HP today announced a broad initiative to expand digital color imaging and printing to all of its customers in the home and office. Bringing 20 years of innovation and more than $1 billion in overall research and development, HP is helping customers add color to all aspects of their lives.
In order to reach customers in various stages of digital color adoption, HP plans to:
Work with industry leaders such as Adobe, Apple, Microsoft and Quark to deliver the best color experience - one that is both richer and easier - for businesses and consumers.
Deliver robust, affordable color printing products. For example, HP is launching the first color laser printer in North America introduced at a price below $500. At an estimated U.S. street price of $499,(1) the HP Color LaserJet 2550 printer is priced to fit the budgets of microbusinesses and small- to medium-size business (SMB) customers.
Continue to elevate and improve print quality. HP is introducing new papers - including laser specialty media, matte postcards and labels - to complement the complete color printing system, bringing customers professional print quality and reliability whether they are printing everyday general office documents or professional-looking marketing materials.
ColorVision Press Release 10/02/04
ColorVision Unveils The Affordable New SpectroPRO Suite For Professional’s Who Can’t Leave Digital Imaging To Chance
LAS VEGAS, NV- February 12- Today at the PHOTO MARKETING ASSOCIATION (PMA) Trade Show (Booth #Q100) COLORVISION Inc., a Datacolor company announced the new SpectroPRO Suite, a total solution for professionals who depend on accurate monitor calibration and printer profiling. SpectroPRO Suite has all the tools for high-level color control; monitor calibration, outstanding Spectro-built printer profiles and sophisticated profile editing, all for $999.
The SpectroPRO Suite package is compatible with most popular image editing tools and printers, putting control of the digital darkroom in the hands of the creator. The bundle includes:
- SpectroPRO Spectrocolorimeter, which conveniently measures a range of calibration targets (in the ProfilerPRO component) including new color targets specially opti mized for reading with the ColorMouse and PatchReader software.
- The new PatchReader software utility for reading color targets and reducing patch-reading errors with an easy to use color-coded reading interface which makes patch reading a snap with the Spectrocolorimeter, no matter how many times you need to return to it. You can even save partially read targets for later completion!
- ProfilerPRO (3.0) printer profile building software, with more accurate matching of saturated vector colors, especially helpful for graphic designers. ProfilerPRO used with the ColorMouse Spectrocolorimeter builds high-quality printer profiles right inside Adobe Photoshop.
- DoctorPRO software (included in ProfilerPRO) which edits your profiles using the full Adobe Photoshop toolset for color manipulation.
- The award-winning USB SpyderPRO colorimeter with the advanced features of OptiCAL software for use on both LCD and CRT displays.
Epson USA Press Release 20/10/03
New Epson Stylus Pro 4000 Offers 17-Inch-Wide Professional-Level Photographic Printing and Seven-Color UltraChrome Ink System with New Eight-Channel Printhead
LONG BEACH, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Oct. 20, 2003—
Epson Stylus Pro 4000 Offers Nearly Twice the Speed of Previous Epson Stylus Pro Printers and New Ink System Automatically Switches Between Matte Black and Photo Black Ink Modes
Epson’s newest and most advanced professional-level photographic printer to date is taking the form of a desktop design. The new Epson Stylus(R) Pro 4000 creates exhibit-quality images up to 17 inches in width at speeds that nearly double that of previous Epson Stylus Pro printers. The printer features a new eight-channel printhead and seven-color Epson UltraChrome(TM) pigmented ink system that automatically switches between Matte Black and Photo Black inks for optimum print quality on different media surfaces. It’s also packed with several other advanced features designed specifically around the needs of today’s professional photographers, graphic designers, commercial printers, GIS mapping, CAD users and more.
“We’re confident the Epson Stylus Pro 4000 will be the most popular and best selling Stylus Pro printer yet,” said Mark Radogna, senior product manager, professional graphics, Epson. “The combination of this printer’s amazing image quality, dramatically faster performance and unique 17-inch-wide media handling, will make it a must-have product for any digital imaging professional—especially with an estimated street price of only $1,795.”