22 April, 2006

Camera Firmware Updates

Darren wrote this at 10:08 am:

Several firmware updates for various cameras have been released recently:

* Filed under: Canon,Firmware Updates,Leica,Olympus
No Comments

19 April, 2006

Phase One Capture One 3.7.4

Darren wrote this at 1:40 am:

Phase One has recently updated its Capture One RAW workflow software to version 3.7.4: see Capture One for Mac OS X and/or Capture One for Windows.

Features of this update include:

  • support for additional cameras, including the Phase One P45, P30 and P21, Canon EOS 30D, Pentax *ist series DSLRs, and Sony DSC-R1
  • Universal Binary on Mac OS X, running natively on both Intel and PowerPC processors
  • 15% faster RAW processing on OS X
  • 10% faster RAW processing on Windows
  • up to 200% faster capture rate

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , ,

* Filed under: Canon,Pentax,Phase One,RAW Files,Software,Sony,Workflow
No Comments

Raw Developer vs Capture One

Darren wrote this at 1:07 am:

Digital Outback Photo has published a review note by Charles Cramer, comparing RAW conversions on his Phase One P45 (39 megapixel) RAW files using both PhaseOne Capture One and Iridient Digital’s RAW Developer: Capture One vs. Raw Developer.

While Phase One’s Capture One gives lovely low-noise images, RAW Developer gives more fine detail, especially in low-contrast areas of the image. So Capture One would probably be better for use in portrait and product photography where smooth noise-free results are favored, while RAW Developer would be very well suited to use in landscape photography where fine detail matters most.

As Charles concludes – the winner in this contest is the Phase One P45!

Other RAW Developer articles:

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , ,

* Filed under: Phase One,RAW Files,Software
No Comments

6 April, 2006

Sigma 17-70mm Reviews

Darren wrote this at 11:17 am:

I’ve just added a new page of reviews of the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC MACRO lens. If you have any links to suggest, please add them to the comments.

Technorati Tags: , ,

* Filed under: Sigma,Site Updates
No Comments

13 March, 2006

Mamiya Launches ZD Medium Format DSLR

Darren wrote this at 2:15 am:

First announced way back in September 2004, the Mamiya ZD is finally now available.

The ZD is a 22 megapixel medium format digital SLR with a 48mm x 36mm CCD sensor. It is compatible with 645AF lenses and uses Compact Flash (CF type I and II) and Secure Digital (SD) memory cards. An interesting feature is the removable low-pass filter over the CCD.

The retail price is £7000 for the body only (excluding VAT), which equates to approximately USD$12,100.

There will also be a 22 megapixel Mamiya ZD digital back, designed for the Mamiya 645AFD and the New RZ67 Pro IID medium format cameras.

Michael Reichmann from The Luminous Landscape is collecting Notes From Here And There on the Mamiya ZD, since Mamiya America isn’t very forthcoming with information.

DP Review has the ZD press release and specifications.

* Filed under: Mamiya
No Comments

26 February, 2006

PMA 2006 Announcements

Darren wrote this at 7:39 pm:

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

Samsung

Canon

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

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
No Comments

22 February, 2006

AF-S VR Micro-Nikkon 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED

Darren wrote this at 7:51 pm:

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
No Comments

New Canon 17-55mm and 85mm Lenses

Darren wrote this at 7:46 pm:

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: , , , ,

* Filed under: Canon
No Comments

Canon EOS 30D Announced

Darren wrote this at 7:41 pm:

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: , , , , , ,

* Filed under: Canon
No Comments

15 February, 2006

Nikon Invests In Nik Software

Darren wrote this at 9:06 pm:

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
No Comments

« Previous Page — « Earlier entries     Later entries » — Next Page »