Panasonic have release Firmware V1.1 for its new DSLR the DMC-L10. The update improves on auto focus, auto exposure and white balance. The interval between shots has also been shortened which will please some users. The front and rear control dials now can be used to fine tune the white balance and the position of the magnifying area in live view mode.
More information and download Firmware v1.1.
Details of improvements to Ver 1.1
- Improved the performance of AF(Auto Focus) with Panasonic lenses. (Model Number L-ES014050,L-RS014150).
- Improved the performance of AE (An accuracy improvement of Auto Exposure at night scene).
- Improved the performance of AWB(Auto White Balance).
- Shortened the minimum shooting intervals on the single shooting mode.
- Enabled the Front/Rear dial operations in the fine white balance adjustment and the change of magnifying position on the MF Assist in Live View mode.
Olympus have released a special guest review of its new flagship E-System Digital SLR: the E-3. Professional wildlife photographer Mituaki Iwago is interviewed by Toshiyuki Terada, Olympus Imaging Corp Product Manager. Mituaki Iwago was given an Olympus E-3 for a month to test in the fields of Africa and explains how all the new features proved ‘indispensable’ in the field.
The interview is available on the Olympus E-System Website.
The E-3 improves on the E-1 in a number of respects, first and foremost auto focus performance with a new 11-point ‘Full Twin Cross Sensor’. Its other new features include shutter speeds up to 1/8000th of a second, 5 fps shooting, reduced shutter lag and a ‘Dual-axis Flexible-angle LCD’. The view finder size has increased and the in-camera Image Stabilizition has also been improved to be able to compensate for up to 5 shutter steps.
More information on the Olympus E-3:
More information on Mitsuaki Iwago:
Adobe has announced Camera Raw 4.3.1, closely following their release last month which included updates to Photoshop CS3, Camera Raw 4.3 and Lightroom 1.3. The previous release of version 4.3 saw an introduction of a bug that meant NEFs shot with a Nikon D100 could not be opened, which has been fixed in this release. Olympus E3 users will be pleased to hear that this version improves on the quality of RAW conversions processed in this release of the Photoshop plugin. Camera RAW 4.3.1 is available for both Windows and Mac OS with the option of the bundled DNG converter. Follow the links below for the download from Adobe.
Adobe Download links:
- Camera Raw 4.3.1
- Camera Raw 4.3.1 bundled with DNG Converter
Nikon ViewNX version 1.0.3 has been announced today with a number of bug fixes and improvements. A number of advancements have been made to the way movie files are viewed while the interface has become more intuitive. A number of bug fixes regarding the installation on Windows have also been introduced. Another important improvement is automatic compensation to correct for loss of marginal lumination of RAW images for the Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED and Nikkor 80-200mm f / 2.8D IF-ED. More information can be found below & the download is available via the Nikon Knowledge Database.
More information and download Nikon ViewNX 1.0.3 (Windows)
More information and download Nikon ViewNX 1.0.3 (Mac OS)
Updated Features and Modifications:
Modifications enabled with Ver. 1.0.3 for Windows:
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A thumbnail of the first frame of .MOV, .AVI, .WMV, and MPEG-1 movie files recorded by Nikon digital cameras, or created with a Nikon application, is now displayed in Thumbnail Grid mode. In addition, an icon indicating that the file is a movie is displayed at the bottom of movie thumbnails.
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Playback of .MOV, AVI, WMV, and MPEG-1 movie files recorded by Nikon digital cameras, or created with a Nikon application is now possible in the image view area.
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When images are selected and drag and drop operation is performed holding right mouse button down, a menu displaying Copy Here, Move Here, and Cancel options is now displayed at the destination.
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Images displayed in Full Screen mode can now be moved to the Recycle Bin by pressing the DELETE key on the keyboard.
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New Folder, Delete, and Output (Convert Files…, Email…, Print…, SlideShow…) options have been added to the Thumbnail area context menu* in Thumbnail Grid and Image Viewer modes.
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Delete, Output (Convert Files…, Email…, Print…), Next, and Previous options have been added to the Image View area context menu* in Image Viewer mode. Read the rest of this entry »
Two new models have been announced today to compliment the growing range of Samsung Digital Cameras. The S760 and S860 have almost identical features with the former being 7 mega pixel and the latter 8 mega pixel. With 3x optical zoom, face recognition and a 2.4 inch LCD, these cameras appear to be good value and are sure to be popular sellers starting at only £79.99. Available in pink, blue, silver and black. Press release follows.
Samsung’s Press Release:
Samsung Expands its Digital Range with two stylish compacts
4 December 2007 - Samsung Cameras, leaders in digital imaging, today announced the release of two new cameras to their popular award-winning S series. The 7 mega pixel S760 and the 8 mega pixel S860 are easy to use and packed with innovative features.
Both cameras combine Samsung’s advanced image processing technology and Samsung’s Intelligent Face Recognition Technology. Samsung’s Intelligent Face Recognition Technology, detects the subject’s face and automatically adjusts auto focus and auto exposure to ensure better composition and image quality in portraits. The AF function instantaneously recognises the faces of subjects and accurately focuses on them, then the AE function takes over, setting the appropriate exposure to ensure the highest image quality.
The S760 and S860 feature 3 x optical zoom and a bright 2.4” LCD display. Both models also boast 11 scene modes and digital image stabilisation technology.
Features include:
- 3x Optical Zoom Lens
- 2.4” LCD Screen
- Digital Image Stabilization
- High Sensitivity ISO 1000
- Function Description
- Self Shot
The Samsung S760 and S860 will be available in a choice of black, silver, pink or blue colours from January 2008 at an RRP of £79.99 for the S760 and price still to be confirmed for the S860. Customers requiring further information should call 00 800 122 637 27 or visit www.samsungcamera.co.uk
A new version of the Tamron 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 superzoom with a built in AF motor has been announced. It is aimed at users of the D40 and D40x which lack legacy lens support for mechanical focus coupling. Nikon has been criticized for this omission which has meant that many users have had a limited selection of lenses that are compatible with their D40. It will be available from December 13th with price and worldwide availability yet to be announced.
Tamron’s Press Release:
Tamron announces the launch of the popular AF18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II with built-in motor for Nikon (Model A18N II)
A Compact, Lightweight and Ultimate High Power Zoom Lens Boasting the 13.9X Zoom
Power Designed Exclusively for APS-C Sized Digital SLRs
Mr. Morio Ono, of Tamron Co., Ltd., announced that the company will release the AF18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro, a lightweight, compact and ultra high power zoom lens designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras with APS-C sized image sensors with a built-in motor for Nikon (Model A18N II).
The AF18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro is the ultimate high power zoom lens boasting the world’s greatest zoom ratio* of 13.9X, a milestone that Tamron, the pioneer of high power zoom lenses, has achieved by commanding its technologies to further expand the capabilities of high power zoom lenses.
*As of November, 2007. Based upon Tamron’s research of lenses for exclusive use with digital SLRs equipped with APS-C sized image sensors
Sigma has announced two new fast telephoto zoom lenses. The APO 50-150mm F2.8 II EX DC HSM designed for APS-C sized cameras, has 18 elements in 14 groups, four of which are SLD elements to minimize aberrations and HSM. The APO 70-200mm F2.8 II EX DG MACRO HSM is sutable for all sensor sizes and has improved closup performance at a magnification ratio of 1:3.5 due to a change in the layout of the lens. Press release and specifications below.
Sigma’s press release:
Large aperture telephoto zoom lens designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras and reveals its strength in close-up photography
APO 50-150mm F2.8 II EX DC HSM
The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new APO 50-150mm F2.8 II EX DC HSM lens.
This large aperture telephoto zoom lens is designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras with APS-C size sensors and its compact, lightweight body provides freedom of movement and versatility. The minimum focusing distance of 100cm/39.4in. and the high-resolution power layout have improved the strength of the lens in close-up photography. This lens offers a large aperture of F2.8 and its large depth of field offers greater freedom of creative expression. It has a maximum aperture of F2.8. Four SLD glass elements are used for maximum correction of chromatic aberrations. The super multi-layer lens coating reduce flare and ghosting and ensure sharp images throughout the entire zoom range. The lens design incorporates an inner focusing and inner zooming system. As the overall length of the lens does not change during focusing and zooming, convenient handling is ensured. The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) system allows quiet and high-speed auto focusing with full time manual focus override by just rotating the focusing ring. The addition of the optional 1.4x EX DG APO or 2x EX DG APO Tele Converters produce a 70-210mm F4 AF tele-zoom lens and a 100-300mm F5.6 AF ultra-telephoto zoom lens respectively.
*Vignetting will occur if the lens is used with digital cameras with image sensors larger than APS-C size or 35mm SLR cameras. Read the rest of this entry »
It has been over a year since Sigma announced their revolutionary DP1 at Photokina 2006. It features an APS-C sized sensor which is a first for a camera of its size and means many people are keen to get their hands on one. Sigma has more recently showed some redesigned engineering samples at PMA in March 2007 but there has been no news since.
Sigma has recently released a statement apologizing for the lack of information and admitting that there has been a hold up in production due to the image processing pipeline needing ‘major revisions to it’.
‘…we found it was difficult to achieve image quality as good as in our other SD cameras. The images looked okay, but they clearly did not have the special image qualities that we see in our SD cameras: delicate, refined and 3-dimensional images rendered in fine detail.’
The good news is that alpha testing of the final design has begun this November but unfortunately there is still no definite release date. Sigma has assured its prospective users that the DP1 will be well worth the wait.
Read Sigma’s official statement here.
Sigma DP1 official site.
Nikon has made the ‘Picture Controls’ of it’s superseeded model - the D2X(s) - available to users of the D3 and D300. Nikon have cleverly done this, knowing that a number of users of the D2X have / will be upgrading to these models and it could act as a incentive to do so for those who were slightly reluctant. These downloads will emulate the colour controls found on the D2X and emulate the original color modes I to III. The major benefit is to photographers upgrading cameras who will save time setting up their new DSLR to fit with their existing workflow. Downloads are available below via the Nikon Asia customer help centre.
Download from Nikon:
Wanna master your DSLR Camera? Check out this lifehacker.com DSLR Camera guide.
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