Digital SLR Blog

Olympus has released updates for the following lenses: Olympus ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 8mm F3.5 Fisheye, 18-180mm F3.5-6.3, 70-300mm F4.0-5.6 and the 90-250mm F2.8. The update fixes the sequential shooting when using C-AF on the E-3 and E-30. For more information go here.

Mac users can now download the latest update to Mac OS X Leopard, version 10.5.7. The upgrade adds system-level raw support for 14 new cameras and digital backs including four Leaf cameras. The new cameras supported are:

Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 50D
Canon PowerShot G10
Epson R-D1x
Pentax K2000/K-m
Leaf AFi-II 6
Leaf AFi-II 7
Leaf Aptus-II 6
Leaf Aptus-II 7
Leica M8.2
Nikon D3X
Nikon Coolpix P6000
Nikon D90
Sony DSLR-A900

Eye-fi users can now directly upload videos from their digital camera to Picasa Web Albums, Photobucket or SmugMug, in addition to YouTube(TM) or Flickr. The 4GB Eye-Fi Share Video and Eye-Fi Explore Video cards can also can upload photos and videos directly to the computer and can also automatically geotags photos and videos. Eye-Fi’s newest wireless SD memory cards are now available at Apple Retail Stores and Best Buy locations nationwide for an MSRP of $79 (4GB Eye-Fi Share Video) and $99 (4GB Eye-Fi Explore Video).

Firmware 1.19 is now available for the Ricoh CX1. The upgrade fixes the following issue:When the battery is low, camera may power down without retracting the lens.To download it, head over here.

Canon has released updates for a number of their applications including Digital Photo Professional, EOS Utility and Picture Style Editor. The updates are available for both Mac and Windows OS and head over here to see the list of updates.
 

Canon has released the firmware update for the EOS REBEL XSi / 450D DSLR.  Firmware Update 1.1.0 incorporates the following improvements.

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

To download it and for further instructions go here.

PhotoZone has reviewed the Panasonic DMC-G1 and you can check out their analysis here. The “Digital Interchangeable Lens Camera" impresses with its image quality, its fast contrast AF, its electronic viewfinder and its compact form factor. However the Panasonic DMC-G1 had its faults as it suffered from an average battery life, lacked a built-in image stabilizer and was found suitable for fast subject tracking.

Version 1.12 for the Nikon D40 and version 1.01 for the Nikon D40x is now available for download.

Nikon D40:

Modifications enabled with A Firmware Ver. 1.12

    * Remaining battery charge is now accurately detected for Rechargeable Li-ion Batteries EN-EL9a.
    * With firmware Ver. 1.11 and earlier, the number of images that could be captured (battery performance) when an EN-EL9a was used, was less than when an EN-EL9 was used. By upgrading A firmware to Ver. 1.12, EN-EL9a performance is maximized so that more images can be captured (battery performance) when an EN-EL9a is used than when an EN-EL9 is used.

More after the jump

Aperture 2.1.3 is now available for download to Mac users. The new version “improves overall stability and provides fixes for issues related to database integrity and compatibility with specific file types."

Fixes include:

• Nikon images imported directly from a camera now display thumbnails correctly in the Import window.

• Fixed an issue that could cause unwanted duplicate image versions to be created after rebuilding a library or after importing projects. These duplicate versions appear in the Browser as gray boxes or square thumbnails and show a Pixel Size of "0 x 0" in the Metadata panel. The word "(null)" may appear in the name of these versions. If your Aperture Library contains these duplicate versions, you may be able to eliminate them by rebuilding your library after updating to Aperture 2.1.3. To rebuild an Aperture Library, hold down the Option and Command keys while opening Aperture, then click the Rebuild Now button. If rebuilding the Aperture Library does not remove these unwanted duplicate versions, you can manually delete them.

• Addressed a library issue that prevented the operation of the Relocate and Consolidate commands in some circumstances. This situation could occur if you renamed images using the Relocate Masters command, and then subsequently rebuilt your Aperture Library. If you are unable to Relocate or Consolidate Masters, you may be able to remedy the issue by rebuilding your Aperture Library using Aperture 2.1.3, as described above.
 

Version 2.5 of the BatchPhoto software is now available courtesy Bits&Coffee SRL. The Windows based application makes it easy to annotate, touch up, transform, apply effects, convert and rename hundreds of pictures in a single operation. The latest version now has the Raw Photo Development feature where one can save the raw image data as read by the optical sensor without any loss or additional processing.

The Eye-Fi Explore Video and Share Video 4GB Wi-Fi SDHC cards are now shipping. One can order them online or wait till April 19th to buy them from stores. The Explore is selling for $99.99 and the Video can be bought for $79.99.

Via Engadget

Firmware update 1.16 is now available for the Ricoh CX1 compact camera. The update resolves the following problems:

•  If you take pictures with M-Cont. Plus, an MP file may be recorded with missing a partial frame(s).
•  In Focus Bracketing, a self-timer feature may not work properly.
 

Firmware update v1.1 for the Olympus E-30 DSLR is now available for download. Olympus E-30 Firmware version 1.1 incorporates the following improvements and fixes:

    * Reduced the sound of Image stabilizer operations when IMAGER AF and HYBRID AF are being used.
    * Resolved the issue where pressing the delete button in Close-up playback occasionally caused the Card access lamp to blink.
    * Resolved the issue where images with a changed aspect ratio played back with Index display sometimes had horizontal stripes.

Download it from here.

Version 1.4.0 of Nikon Transfer is now available to both Mac and Windows users. Mac users need to go here to download and PC users here.



Modifications enabled with Ver. 1.4.0

- When the ‘Transfer new photos only’ checkbox in the Preferences panel of the Options dialog is checked and all image files displayed in the transfer queue have been transferred, the ‘Disconnect Automatically after transfer’, ‘Shut down computer automatically after transfer’ and ‘Quit Nikon transfer automatically after transfer’ operations are no longer performed, even if these options have been enabled.
- When ‘Date Transferred’ is selected with the Index pull down menu (between prefix and suffix) in the Folder Naming dialog, a checkbox called ‘Do not add trailing number’ is now displayed.  If the checkbox is not checked, a trailing number of the form of “YYYYMMDD_001” will be added as with previous versions.
- ‘Original name+New name’ and ‘New name+Original name’ options have been added to the prefix and suffix portions in the File Naming dialog.
- An ‘Add XMP/IPTC rating as my Picturetown favourites option has been added to the my Picturetown panel in the Options dialog.
- When ‘Verify my Picturetown account’ in the my Picturetown panel of the Options dialog is clicked, the total amount of storage used is now displayed as a percentage of the total capacity available.
 

Version 5 of the Picture Information Extractor (PIE) application is now available for download. The update incorporates new features like unicode support and XMP and IPTC metadata, which means editing of metadata, is now possible even in some RAW formats such as Adobe DNG. A free evaluation version of PIE 5.0 can be downloaded from the Picmeta Website and for more information go to http://www.picmeta.com/products/picture-information-extractor.htm

The  PocketWizard MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 firmware updates for the Canon systems have been delayed will now be released by next week. The key changes the update would bring is:

# The ability to choose between HyperSync and camera maker High Speed Sync at shutter speeds above 1/500.

# A basic trigger mode option, intended primarily to allow the MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 to be used as transmitters on cameras other than Canon and Nikon.

# Allow the MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 to fire any flash sitting in their hot shoes, not just ones they detect to be compatible with ControlTL



[Via Rob Galbraith ]


 

Olympus has released a firmware update for the Zuiko Digital 9-18mm lens. The Zuiko Digital 9-18mm lens update increases the responsiveness of the autofocus when using Imager AF (I-AF) with the Live View LCD in some situations.The firmware can be updated through Olympus Master software and go here for more info.

Apple has released the iPhoto Update 8.0.1 that  "improves overall stability and addresses minor issues in a number of areas, including Internet connectivity, keyword import, and slideshow export." Apple users can hit the update button on their Macs or head over to the download page.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.3 and Camera Raw 5.3 are now available for immediate download. One can head over here to download the updates, which now provide raw file support for the newly released Nikon D3x and Olympus E-30 cameras. The Lightroom 2.3 update also provides support for eight additional languages and addresses several issues including a solution to a memory leak that affected some customers of the Lightroom 2.2 release.

Apple users can now download the Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 2.5. The update extends RAW file compatibility for Aperture 2, iPhoto '08, and iPhoto '09 for the following cameras:

    * Nikon D3X
    * Epson R-D1x

Adobe has released a plug-in that disables the multitouch gesture for canvas rotation, as well as the gestures for zooming and flick panning on the MacBook Air and recent MacBook Pro systems. Sometimes the canvas gets rotated accidentally through inadvertent use of the gesture on the trackpad and hence Adobe has attempted to correct it.  You can download the plug-in from 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.

SanDisk has started shipping the latest versions of its ImageMate memory card readers. The updated versions are sleeker and faster than their predecessors. The All-In-One memory card reader can reach speeds of up to 34 megabytes per second (MB/s)1 when using a SanDisk Extreme® IV 45MB/s CompactFlash® card, and the Multi-Card reader is capable of up to 30MB/s2 read and 27 MB/s write data transfer rates when using a SanDisk Extreme® III 30MB/s Edition SDHC™ card. Both the ImageMate All-in-One and Multi-Card readers come with a two year limited warranty and support SDHC, miniSDHC™, microSDHC™, MMC, Memory Stick®, Memory Stick Pro Duo™, xD and CompactFlash, among others.

Nik Software will also be exhibiting at the Focus on Imaging 2009 event which will take place s at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham from February 22 to 25. They will present their  new products at the Color Confidence stand E33
Their schedule:


- Daily live presentations of our award winning products shown by Nik experts
- Show Specials for all visitors
- Daily live shootings and presentations by Robin Preston at the HP stand M2 and twice a day at the Apple stage („Analog darkroom for digital black & white)
- Once a day an advanced Capture NX 2 speech at the Nikon stand D40 & E40

Firmware update 1.0.2.0 is now available for Canon PowerShot G10. The upgrade fixes the following phenomenon.

If RAW images are captured by continuous shooting under the ISO 1600 setting, abnormal data is recorded and a magenta cast appears in the second and subsequent RAW images. This phenomenon also occurs in the second and subsequent recorded RAW images captured by single shooting, but only if the LCD monitor display mode is set to the OFF position.
This phenomenon cannot be confirmed when images are played back on the camera’s LCD monitor. It can only be confirmed if image processing software (such as the Digital Photo Professional software bundled with the product) is used to develop RAW images on a PC.

* Images that have the magenta cast phenomenon cannot be fixed.
* The phenomenon only appears in RAW images, and does not appear in JPEG images or images appearing on the LCD monitor display.
* The phenomenon only occurs if the ISO Speed Dial is set to ISO 1600 manually, and does not occur if the ISO speed is set to other values (such as ISO AUTO or ISO HI).

Nik Software has announced a free online webinar that will offer tips on Capture NX 2. Presented by Tony Corbel, the Capture NX 2 webinar will take place on February 12th, 11:00 a.m. PST (2:00 p.m. EST). One can make their reservation at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/152815648.

Firmware update 1.2 for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 is available for download. The update enables file write back from PC to the camera for models shipped for Europe and enhances Auto White Balance and colour reproduction performance. Download it from here.

If you want to read the latest review of the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G1K then head over to Good Gear Guide. On reviewing the Micro Four Thirds system, the website found the camera to be one of the best advanced compact cameras. While the colors were found to be a tad subdued, however according to GGG, the camera is a winner even though it lacks a video mode.

Firmware version 1.1.1 for the Canon EOS 40D is now available for download. Version 1.1.1 fixes the following problems:


Fixes a malfunction that in rare occurrence causes a low battery indication to be displayed when using the EF 85mm F1.2L II USM lens. Depending on the battery check timing of the camera, the battery level displayed on the camera's LCD data panel may shows Battery will be exhausted soon or Battery must be recharged, even though the battery capacity is sufficient.

• Fixes a malfunction that in rare occurrence causes an Err 06 Self Cleaning Sensor malfunction to appear on the camera's LCD monitor and LCD data panel, even when the Self Cleaning Sensor Unit is operating normally. This message may appear depending on the timing of when the camera is switch to the ON position.

• Fixes a malfunction that prevents correct colors from being printed when direct printing. RAW images captured using the camera's custom Picture Styles (Emerald, etc.), which have been downloaded from Canon's Web site and registered under User Def. 2 or User Def. 3.

• Modifies the level of subject brightness that causes the AF-assist beam to fire when using an external Speedlite.

• Enables an external flash connected to the camera's synchro terminal to fire even when the camera's built-in flash is popped up.


Download it from here.

Hamrick Software have released VueScan 8.5.01 which apart from offering an enhanced performance also adds support for 180 Raw file formats.  The Standard Edition of Version 8.5.01 can be downloaded for $39.95 and the Professional Edition for $79.95. The software is available for Linux, Mac OS X 10.3.9+ and Windows platforms and for the full list of the 321 supported Raw formats go here.