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Bibble Labs have released Bibble 4.6, integrating Picture Code LLC’s Noise Ninja noise reduction software. For detailed information see Bibble Labs’ Bibble 4.6 press release.

New features and improvements include:

• Advanced noise reduction with Noise Ninja technology
• Bibble 4.6 now runs natively on Intel Macintoshes, which is great news for those with shiny new toys.
• Revised and simpler user interface.
• Speed improvements when converting Canon RAW files.

Bibble 4.6 is a free update for all existing licensees of previous versions of Bibble 4.

For more information, see the Bibble Labs web site.

Filed under: RAW Files, Software, Workflow
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There have been a lot of interesting announcements coming out of this year’s Photo Marketing Association (PMA) trade show. Rather than clog up this blog with dozens of individual posts, I’ll do one of these catch-all posts every few days.

A good related article is Michael Reichmann’s state-of-the-industry summary A View of the Photographic Industry From 30,000 Feet.

Pentax

• Pentaxhas confirmed that the company will unveil a yet to be named Pentax 10 megapixel digital SLR camera body, tentatively scheduled for a formal launch in Autumn 2006.
• The smc Pentax-DA 21mm F3.2AL Limited is an interchangeable uni-focal wide-angle lens for exclusive use with Pentaxdigital SLR camera bodies. Offering wide-perspective coverage with a 68-degree angle of view (equivalent in focal length to 32mm in the 35mm format, when mounted on a Pentax *ist D series digital SLR camera body), the lens features a Pentax-original KAF lens mount. Pentax has tentatively scheduled the lens launch for June 2006.
• Pentax also will preview the Pentax 645 medium format digital SLR camera for the first time in the United States. Offering professional-quality digital image reproduction with 18 effective megapixels, a Kodak-developed extra-large CCD image sensor with 18.6 total megapixels (tentative), a Pentax-original 645AF lens mount, the 645 Digital will maintain compatibility with existing smc Pentax 645 interchangeable lenses.
• Press release at the Pentax site.
• Photos at DP Review.

Panasonic/Leica

• Panasonic’s first interchangeable-lens digital SLR camera, the 7.5 megapixel LUMIX DMC-L1 (press release, hands-on preview at DP Review).
• Leica D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50mm/F2.8-3.5 ASPH lens in Four Thirds mount (press release, photo at DP Review).

Samsung

• Entry level, 6 megapixel GX-1L digital SLR (press release and photos at DP Review).

Canon

• Large format A2 (17-inch) imagePROGRAF IPF5000 photo printer (press release and photo at DP Review).
• PIXMA Pro9000 8-color ink A3+ photo printer (press release and photo at DP Review).
• PIXMA Pro9500 10-color pigment ink A3+ photo printer (press release and photo at DP Review).

Sigma

• 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM for Four Thirds Mount
• 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC for Four Thirds Mount
• MACRO 105mm F2.8 EX DG for Four Thirds Mount
• APO MACRO 150mm F2.8 EX DG HSM for Four Thirds Mount
• APO 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX DG HSM for Four Thirds Mount
• details of above lenses at DP Review
• 70-200 mm F2.8 EX DG Macro - details at DP Review
• 17-70 mm F2.8 - F4.5 DC Macro - details at DP Review

Sandisk

• 8GB Extreme III Compact Flash card (Sandisk product page)
• 2GB Ultra II SD Plus card (Press release at DP Review)
• 4GB Ultra II Memory Stick PRO Duo card (Press release at DP Review

Lexar

• 8.0 GB Professional 90X Compact Flash card

More comprehensive coverage of and commentary on the PMA 2006 announcements can be found at The Luminous Landscape.

Filed under: Canon, Equipment, Leica, Panasonic, Pentax, Samsung, Sigma
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Nikon has just announced the AF-S VR Micro-Nikkon 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens. This is the first macro lens equipped with both the Silent Wave Motor (SWM) and Vibration Reduction (VR) systems, and works with both Nikon DX format digital and 35mm film SLR cameras.

Filed under: Nikon
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Canon has just announced two new lenses - an EF-S 17-55mm F2.8 IS and an EF 85mm f/1.2 L II Mark II.

You can read about them at DP Review - 17-55mm and 85mm.

Technorati Tags: canon, lenses, digital slr, slr, camera

Filed under: Canon
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Following recent rumors, Canon has announced the release of the EOS 30D digital SLR.

The EOS 30D seems to be an incremental improvement to the EOS 20D, adding in many of the improvements introduced with the EOS 5D. It’s got the same 8.2 megapixel imaging chip, but with a larger 2.5″ rear LCD, larger buffer, spot metering, and more. It also apparently has a 3-second self-timer mode, with mirror lockup.

You can read more at The Luminous Landscape, DP Review and Rob Galbraith DPI.

Technorati Tags: canon, eos, 30d, camera, digital slr, slr, digital camera

Filed under: Canon
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Bibble Labs Inc has reached an agreement with PictureCode LLC to include a fully-integrated version of Noise Ninja in the next release of their RAW workflow software Bibble.

Noise Ninja is one of the best-performing and most popular noise reduction programs for digital photographers.

The new versions of Bibble will soon be available as an upgrade to all current Bibble 4.0 users at no additional charge. The most recent Windows, Macintosh, and Linux releases of these products will be available for download at the Bibble web site and are priced at USD$129.95 for the Pro version and USD$69.95 for the Lite version.

You can read the press release at the Bibble web site.

Filed under: RAW Files, Software, Workflow
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iView Multimedia has released a free update to its professional media cataloging application iView MediaPro 3.

Version 3.0.2 provides the following improvements and enhancements:

• Added support for Panasonic/Leica Digilux Raw image files (via DCRAW).
• Added support for Sinar/Mamiya Raw image files (Preview only).
• Improved cross-platform path resolver.
• Fixed issue with import using QuickTime 7.0.4 (Win).
• Major optimizations on catalog with 40,000+ items.
• XML Data file function (Make menu) now exports only visible items.
• Japanese localization.

If you’re a registered user of iView MediaPro 3, download the 3.0.2 update now. This update works best with the latest version of QuickTime (7.x) from Apple, which is strongly recommended to both Windows and Macintosh users.

Don’t forget, if you don’t already own iView MediaPro 3, we’ve got a special deal lined up with iView Multimedia to save you 15% off the normal purchase price.

Technorati Tags: image management, DAM, digital asset management, iView, iView MediaPro, photo software

Filed under: Asset Management, Software, Workflow
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Nik Software (formerly Nik Multimedia), makers of such great tools as Nik Sharpener Pro and Nik Color Efex Pro) have announced that they are collaborating with Nikon to “develop and distribute digital photographic software and imaging technologies”.

Nik have collaborated with Nikon in the past to produce a proprietary version of Nik Color Efex Pro for use in Nikon’s Nikon Capture software.

Interestingly, this time Nikon has made a capital investment in Nik Software - this is the first time the company has taken external investment. It has always been privately held and privately funded by its executive management.

The press release can be read at DP Review.

Filed under: Nikon, Software
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Adobe has just released Lightroom Beta 2.

New features in Beta 2 include:

• Crop and Straighten tools included in the Develop module
• Ability to add music to slideshows
• White balance support for the Nikon D2X, D2Hs and D50 cameras
• Ability to create hierarchical keyword sets
• XMP Import and Export capabilities. (Please consult Known Issues list for details)
• Improved Edit in Photoshop capabilities
• Improved metadata handling

Although the promised Windows version hasn’t been released yet, Lightroom Beta 2 is now a dual binary, meaning it can run natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs.

Michael Reichmann from The Luminous Landscape has updated his Lightroom Tips and Tricks page to address the new features in Beta 2.

Filed under: Asset Management, Software, Workflow
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Vincent Bockaert has written an article for DP Review on Storing Your Digital Images.

This article gives a pretty good overview on issues around digital image storage and backup systems. He looks at both magnetic storage (hard disks) and optical storage (CDs and DVDs). There is a lot of information on data stability, data recovery, data removal, long-term strategies (”migrate, consolidate, and refresh”), and storage costs, with a neat little set of backup tips to round out the discussion.

Vincent is the author of The 123 Of Digital Imaging. You can also check out his personal web site at VincentBockaert.com.

Filed under: Asset Management
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