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Over on PhotoshopNews.com, Jeff Schewe has posted an article describing his DNG workflow. It’s a very good tutorial on how to convert proprietary RAW files to portable and open DNG RAW files using Adobe’s DNG Converter.

Jeff points out that the DNG format can contain your own metadata and your recommended Camera Raw settings for developing the images – very handy if you’re supplying images to a client:

With your conversion settings from Camera Raw and your metadata locked into the files burned on CD or DVD, you can be assured that clients will have both your vision of what the file should look like as well as your name and contact info locked into the file.

Keep an eye out for Part II in the next few days, where Jeff will continue the description of his DNG workflow.

Filed under: RAW Files,Software,Workflow
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Well, imagine if the answer was that the company that made your original roll of film had manufactured it so that the film only fit into one type of enlarger, and that those enlargers aren’t being made anymore. Or that the chemical properties of the dyes used to make that roll of color film were such that they would only interact to form an image with matching dyes in a printing paper from that same company; but – sorry, that company was sold a few years ago and the new owners decided to stop making that type of paper.

Totally unacceptable of course. But really, this is a pretty far-fetched scenario – isn’t it?

Michael Reichmann and Juergen Specht have co-authored and published an outline of the problem with proprietary RAW files, explaining how it affects photographers. They’re calling for photographers to lobby the camera manufacturers to publish their full RAW specifications so that software developers can work properly with their RAW files. Even better would be widespread adoption by manufacturers of a standard RAW file format, such as Adobe’s DNG.

On the page above you’ll find a sample letter you can copy and paste into an email to the camera maker of your choice (email addresses are also provided to make this as easy as possible). Please do it. The more email these guys get, the more likely they are to do the right thing.

Filed under: RAW Files
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Rollei, manufacturer of the classic twin-lens 6×6 Rolleiflex, has announced the availability of the 6008 AF “Bundle,” which will be the top-of-the-line offering in a family of products Rollei is rolling out in the U.S.

The bundle includes the Rollei 6008 AF camera, the world’s first auto focus single lens reflex camera in a 6 x 6 medium format; C1 Pro software for precise workflow that supports all phases of image editing and intuitive operation; and the PhaseOne db20p digital back, which gives photographers film and digital picture taking capability in one package. The interchangeable film packs allow a photographer to shoot film, Polaroid-type shots as well as digital shots.

The db20p has resolution of 16 mega pixels, 16 bits per RGB or CMYK color, and offers the option of saving RAW files in addition to TIFF and JPEG files. The unit handles studio or location shoots with ease, thanks to high performance rechargeable batteries that provide 250 shots (four working hours) and 45 frames per minute without AC power. The data is stored in the IIQ RAW format on CompactFlash cards. Processed images can be stored in the form of IIQ RAW, TIFF-RGB, TIFF-CMYK or JPEG files. File sizes are between 48 MB and 128 MB. ICC profiles can be embedded for optimum color management.

The 6008 AF is targeted to studio and on-location professionals—from portrait, fashion and landscape photographers, to photojournalists, and corporate/ government photographers involved in “workflow” photography. Pricing is expected to be in the $14,999 range.

For more information, see the Rollei web site.

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Sigma has released their new APO 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX DG/HSM lens, optimized for use with digital SLR cameras.

High Magnification Zoom Lens with a 10:1 zoom ratio, from 50mm standard to 500mm ultra telephoto focal length range.

For the first time in optical history, this ultra-zoom lens employs a seven-group zoom system, which provides a high magnification. This system ensures a superior level of precision from 50mm standard to 500mm ultra focal length range.

In addition, by utilizing triple-cam Rear Focusing System effectively, high precision is maintained throughout the whole focus length.

See Sigma’s web site for more information.

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The Technical Imaging Press Association (TIPA) has awarded Epson four awards in their annual review of the best products in the photo market.

The awards were:

• Best Prestige Camera: Epson R-D1 rangefinder digital camera
• Best Flatbed Scanner: Epson Perfection 4990 Photo
• Best A3 Photo Printer: Epson Stylus Photo R1800
• Best Image Storage Back-Up: Epson P-2000 Multimedia Storage Viewer

Also see our reviews of the Epson P-2000 Multimedia Storage Viewer.

Filed under: Equipment,Printers
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“Close-Ups”, the subject of the 14th International AgfaPhoto Award, was very much to the taste of our visitors. The call to “get really close” demanded intensive examination of the motif, its details and its possibilities – and, of course, the idea behind the picture. After all, perspective, composition, light and depth of field play a particularly important role in this instance. All in all, this made for an exciting challenge that was taken up with great enthusiasm by ambitious photographers around the globe. This was also reflected in the fantastic response – more than 19,000 entries that made this 14th Award the most successful and popular competition to date. Such an impressive volume of photos also made it a very demanding task for our jury to find, and award prizes to, the 40 best motifs.

Close Ups

Make sure you click through to the gallery to see the top 40 entries – there is some really good work in there.

You can look through the galleries of past competitions as well.

Agfa also has information about current competitions they’re running.

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Check out the photos in this eBay auction for photographic paper.

Hmm, somehow I don’t think he’s going to get much for it now!

Filed under: Humor
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Canon is warning users of all current Canon DSLRs (EOS-1Ds Mark II, EOS-1D Mark II, EOS 20D, EOS Digital Rebel XT / EOS 350D Digital / EOS Kiss Digital N) about a problem they might encounter using their cameras with Lexar Professional 80x-speed Compact Flash cards.

Captured images on some Lexar CompactFlash cards can be lost when used with the Canon cameras listed above. Working together, Lexar and Canon have investigated the cause and confirmed that the problem occurs in extremely rare instances when the products above are used together.

Countermeasure:

Lexar will offer a free firmware update incorporating the correction of this problem by the end of May 2005 for Lexar Professional Series 80x CompactFlash card customers using the affected Canon cameras.

Here’s a link to Canon’s full warning.

Once a fix is released, I’ll post a link here.

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From Canon’s press release:

Pressing the [DISPLAY] button immediately after shooting with the camera set to “RAW+JPEG (high image quality)” causes the LCD monitor to become entirely white and the camera to lock up, losing all the images in the buffer. This problem is caused by the firmware for these models and sometimes occurs regardless of the recording media used.

Countermeasure:

We are now making arrangements to release new camera firmware incorporating the correction of this problem by the end of May 2005. In the meantime, please be aware of the following when using these models.

• Before pressing the [DISPLAY] button to check captured images, make sure the access lamp is off, indicating that files have been written to the media.
• When this problem occurs, remove and re-install the battery to restore correct operation.

I’ll announce the firmware update here as soon as it’s released by Canon.

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Interview with Greg Gorman about the New Epson Printers

I interviewed Greg Gorman at his home in Hollywood by phone this last Sunday, May 15th, 2005. In particular, we talked about the new Epson Stylus Pro 4800 printer and the new UltraChrome K3 inks.

Greg is a good friend who over the years has been an avid and enthusiastic adopter of all things digital. In addition to photography, we share a certain, well, shall we say, “zest” for great wine and great food. But we also share a real passion for photography – B&W photography.

Jeff Schewe has made the 21-minute interview available as an audio download, and he’s also included some images Greg shot of actor Richard Gere to demonstrate the B&W printing capabilities of the Epson Stylus Pro 4800 printer. Very impressive indeed!

Filed under: Printers
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