Digital SLR Blog

Firmware version 1.01 is now available for the Sigma DP2. The latest upgrade improves AF accuracy and decreases the issue of intermittent camera freezes under certain conditions. For more information go here.

A new firmware update for the Canon EOS REBEL XS / 1000D DSLR  is now available for download. Firmware Version 1.0.5 incorporates the following improvements.

   1. Supports the AF assist beam feature of the new flash, Speedlite 270 EX, which is scheduled to be released in April 2009.


You can download it from here.

The newly announced Corel Painter 11 application now includes support for Wacom Intuos4. Pressure-sensitive brushes, inventive drawing tools and customizable media makes Corel Painter 11 one of the most popular imaging software’s out there. To learn more about Corel Painter 11 or to download a free, full-featured trial version, please visithttp://www.corel.com/painter.

A new version of the Nikon ViewNX browser is now available for download. Version 1.3.0 of the Nikon ViewNX offers the following changes:

- All image enhancement functions in the Quick Adjustment palette are now supported by both NRW and NEF RAW images. (Exposure Comp., White Balance, Picture Control*, Sharpness, Contrast, Brightness, Highlight/Shadow Protection, D-Lighting HS, Color Booster, Axial Color Aberration) *COOLPIX Picture Controls are not supported.
- Brightness can now be adjusted from the Quick Adjustment palette.
- Axial Color Aberration can now be adjusted from the Quick Adjustment palette.
- A Revert button has been added to the Quick Adjustment palette.  This allows RAW (NEF, NRW) images enhanced with functions available in the Quick Adjustment palette to be restored to their original state.
- The Picture Control Recorded Value is now displayed in the Quick Adjustment palette.


Download it from here.

Digital Light & Color have released the latest upgrade of Picture Window Pro. Picture Window 5.0 includes new editing features like  Color Remap for changing selected colors and 2 and 3 Zone transformations, which lets you divide images by their tonality range. The upgrade now also includes a Raw Converter and a host of new automation and batch processing features.

Canon has released a new firmware update (Version 2.0.0.0) for the PowerShot SX1 IS camera. The update incorporates a RAW image recording function and once the  camera is updated, the camera settings will be restored to default values; however, My Camera data will not be deleted. For more details go here.

The Photoshop CS4 11.0.1 update is now available for download courtesy Adobe. Mac users can download it from here and Window users should head over here.

Highlights of the update:

 A number of issues that could cause slow performance have been addressed.

• Pen barrel rotation with Wacom tablets now works correctly.

• Photoshop now correctly recognizes 3D textures edited by a plug-in.

• The quality of the results of Auto-Blend Layers (Stack Images) has been improved.

• A problem that could result in a crash when pasting formatted text has been fixed.

• A crash that could result from a corrupt font no longer occurs.

A RAW update will soon be available for the Canon SX1 IS. The firmware will be available for download from mid-March and PowerShot SX1 IS owners should check http://web.canon.jp/imaging/BeBit-e.html for information and availability.

At the Focus on Imaging photography show, Nikon will be showcasing its newly announced D3X DSLR. Nikon’s expert team will also be on hand throughout the event to answer any questions and visitors to the Nikon stand (D40, Hall 9) can also win a Nikon D90 camera kit.

Nikon’s seminar schedule will shortly be available on http://www.nikon.co.uk.

Firmware update 2.01 is also now available for the Nikon D3 DSLR. The upgrade makes it possible to view the Geodetic information in ViewNX Ver and also improves the continuous-servo AF performance.

Other improvements include:

- When the AF-ON button is pressed, the monitor turns off and a focus point can now be selected using the multi selector.
- Photo information displayed in full-frame playback has been modified as follows:
HI-, LO- has been changed to Hi, Lo
WARM TONE has been changed to WARM FILTER
COLOR CUSTOM has been changed to COLOR BALANCE
- Manamah, displayed in the Time zone options for the World time item in the setup menu, has been changed to Manama.
- An issue that, in extremely rare cases, resulted in noticeable black dots in images captured with Long exp. NR in the shooting menu set to On has been resolved.
- When the Speedlight SB-800 was mounted on the camera with flash mode set to Distance-priority manual (GN) mode, and then the exposure meters were reactivated or the camera was turned on, the distance information displayed on the SB-800 changed.  This issue has been resolved.
- An issue that, in some rare cases, caused images captured with the following lenses to be under-exposed, has been resolved.
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED
AF VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED (5.0x)

Windows Download
Mac Download

The newly releases firmware update 1.01 for the Nikon D700 makes the following improvements:

- When Custom Setting a4 Focus tracking with lock-on was set to Off in Continuous-servo AF, the lens drive moved gradually without achieving focus.  This issue has been resolved.
- When the Speedlight SB-800 was mounted on the camera with flash mode set to Distance-priority manual (GN) mode, and then the exposure meters were reactivated or the camera was turned on, the distance information displayed on the SB-800 changed.  This issue has been resolved.
- When the Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D10 was mounted on the camera and an EN-EL3e battery inserted in the camera but no batteries inserted in the MB-D10, and SB-900 flash mode set to TTL auto flash mode, the flash mode changed to A mode when the exposure meters turned off or were reactivated, or the camera was turned off or on.  This issue has been resolved.  (This issue has also been resolved with SB-900 firmware Ver. 5.02.

- An issue that, in extremely rare cases, resulted in noticeable black dots in images captured with Long exp. NR in the shooting menu set to On has been resolved.
- Manamah, displayed in the Time zone options for the World time item in the setup menu, has been changed to Manama.


Windows users can download the update from here and Mac users need to gohere.

Photoshop Product Manager John Nack admitted in his blog that Adobe is developing a Photoshop CS4 update. This doesn’t surprise us since a number of CS4 users reported problems with the software and the Photoshop update will "improve the situation." Those experiencing problems can contact Adam Jerugim by email to test  "a small pre-release program that we're opening to public volunteers."

RAW Developer 1.8.2 for the Mac OS is now available courtesy Iridient Digital. The update has support for all the latest new camera models, improves deep shadow rendering, improves default camera profiles for many models and also fixes several bugs.

RAW Developer 1.8.2 is a free update for all currently registered users and one can also purchase a new license for $125.00 US. The RAW Developer 1.8.2 demo and update can be downloaded now from:

http://www.iridientdigital.com/products/rawdeveloper_download.html

Apple has released the Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 2.4. The new version addresses issues related to specific cameras and overall stability and also extends Raw file compatibility to the following cameras:

• Canon EOS 5D Mark II

• Canon PowerShot G10

• Pentax K2000/K-m

• Leaf AFi-II 6

• Leaf AFi-II 7

• Leaf Aptus-II 6

• Leaf Aptus-II 7

• Leica M8.2

For more information and to download the update head over here.

Firmware Update 1.12 is now available for the Fujifilm S5 Pro. The update incorporates the following issue:

An issue that, in some rare case, the camera may be frozen when PC controlling software (included in "Hyper Utility　HS-V3") is used has been resolved.

For more information and to download the update head over here.

• Nikon D80 firmware A:1.11 B:1.11, Mac
  
• Nikon D80 firmware A:1.11 B:1.11, Windows
  
• Nikon D200 firmware A:2.01 B:2.01, Mac
  
• Nikon D200 firmware A:2.01 B:2.01, Windows