Canon and Sony News for Dec 2010 (Page 2)

Canon USA has posted Digital Photo Professional 3.9.2 and the rest of the Canon EOS Software including ZoomBrowser EX 6.6.0b Updater, Picture Style Editor 1.8.0, EOS Utility 2.9.0 Updater and Canon RAW Codec 1.8.0. (thanks Johnny)

Just posted: Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro DX Lens Review

Adobe Photoshop CS5 12.0.2 update

December 7, 2010

The Adobe Photoshop 12.0.2 update fixes a number of high priority bugs including painting performance and type-related issues. The most significant fixes in the Photoshop 12.0.2 update include the following:

• A number of potential security vulnerabilities have been addressed
• Top type and font crashers found in the field have been addressed
• A number of performance issues have been addressed
• Crash opening 3D layers has been addressed
• Color Engine crash has been resolved
• Intermittent file format issues addressed
• Shift scrolling bug fixed
• Sharpen crasher fixed
• Marching ants not seen at certain zoom levels fixed
• Metadata focus distance issue addressed
• File info bug addressed for Orphea Studio jpg's
• TWAIN crashers fixed
• Brush cursor bug fixed
• Histogram progress bar issue fixed
• Droplet issues addressed

Multiple languages: Windows | Macintosh

 
TWAIN Plug-in update

December 7, 2010

The TWAIN plug-in update includes fixes for multiple document scanning and a crasher when attempting a second scan.

 
Camera Raw 6.3 Update

December 7, 2010

This new version of the Camera Raw plug-in replaces the original one that was installed with Adobe Photoshop CS5, Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 and Adobe Premiere Elements 9 software. Visit the Camera Raw page for a complete list of supported cameras.

English: Windows | Macintosh

 
Lightroom 3.3 update

December 7, 2010

The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.3 update includes these enhancements:

• Additional camera support for several new camera models including the Canon PowerShot 95, Nikon D7000, Olympus E-5.
• Corrections for issues introduced in previous versions of Lightroom 3

English: Windows | Macintosh

More detailed information is available at Lightroom Journal.

ISO 12233 chart results have been added to the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM Lens Review page.

I think you are going to like what you see. I will add results for at least one more copy of this lens.

Update: B&H has the Canon 70-300mm L IS Lens in stock.

Press release of a very useful iPhone app from gps4cam:

gps4cam, the app that adds geotagging to every camera

When you take pictures with your iPhone, you can geotag them automatically. But what if you want to take pictures with another digital camera? Now, there is an app for that! gps4cam allows you to geotag pictures taken with any digital camera, so that you can watch them on a map with software like iPhoto, Aperture or Picasa. A big advantage of gps4cam is that it doesn’t need to connect to a network to be used, so you can use it wherever you are on the planet! gps4cam adds a new dimension to your pictures.

gps4cam is easy to use. The only thing you need is to have the app on your iPhone and on your mac or pc. At the moment you start taking pictures you have to launch the app and start a new trip. This trip can be as long as you want and, especially in the Energy Saving mode, you don’t have to charge your phone all the time. At the end of your trip, press the export button, which generates a QR-Code that contains all the information needed to geotag your pictures. You just have to take a picture of this screen with your camera and load the pictures on your computer using gps4cam desktop (the free software for mac and pc).

A great tool for photographers

gps4cam is compatible with every image format (jpg, raw, tiff...) and is the ideal accessory for every kind of digital camera (compact, bridge, slr...). Traveling photographers will love the map integrated in the app, the low energy consumption and the fact that the app doesn’t need to make any connection. The 4 modes (standard, precise, energy saving and manual) are appreciated by all kinds of photographers.

See, organize, and share...

Once you have geotagged your pictures with gps4cam, you can watch and organize them with your favorite software for mac and pc. iPhoto, Aperture or Picasa are good examples of software that allows you to see your pictures on a map. You can also share your geotagged pictures on websites like Flickr, Panoramio or Tweetpic.

The genius of QR-Codes

The use of a QR-Code is unique for this kind of application and is a big advantage for geotagging. Thanks to this barcode you don’t have to geotag every photo manually and to synchronize yourself the time and date between your iPhone and your camera. Also, one QR-Code can be photographed by more than one person, so that you can geotag pictures made by a whole group with only one iPhone.

gps4cam is for sale in Apple’s App Store for only $1.99.

Information can also be found at gps4cam.com.

Watch for the Android version to arrive next year.

A short update: I have heard from many of you that your new Canon lenses are arriving with a 10-digit serial number and no Canon Lens Date Code. My new Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS L USM Lenses are following the same trend. We can expect future lenses to follow the same pattern.

This update includes several important bug fixes which will improve the stability and launch performance of Bridge.

Multiple languages: Windows (28.3 MB)  | Macintosh (30.5 MB)

Utility 1.35 offers new features for Canon MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 radios and compatibility with Nikon MiniTT1 and FlexTT5.

So. Burlington, VT – PocketWizard, the industry leader in wireless control and synchronization of cameras, flash lighting and light meters, announces today the release of Utility 1.35. Utility version 1.35 offers a few new features from Utility 1.18.9 including the ability to save and load profiles, expanded help, improved organization, many operational improvements and compatibility with MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 for Nikon.

Utility 1.35 now offers compatibility with all USB enabled PocketWizard radios including MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 for Canon, PowerST4, MultiMAX (USB enabled only) and the recently released MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 for Nikon.

The new PocketWizard Utility allows you to save custom profiles and then save them to your computer. This allows you to quickly load a profile from your computer and store it in your radio. Additionally, the new Utility has expanded Help features including contextual help in the side bar, an extensive HTML help document and hover-over text. You now have the option to perform a “Factory Reset” from within the PocketWizard Utility. When you update your radios via the Utility, factory reset will be performed automatically.

Click here for more information on Utility 1.35.

Click here to download the new Utility 1.35.

Note: the Nikon MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 are now shipping to dealers.

Press release: SanDisk, Sony and Nikon Propose Next-Generation Standards for CompactFlash

Canon Japan is offering a Locking Mode Dial Upgrade (English) for owners of Canon EOS 7D and Canon EOS 5D Mark II DSLRs.

Starting December 8th, 2010, Canon Japan will convert 7D and 5D II mode dials into the locking type seen on the Canon EOS 60D for $10,500 yen (about $125.00 USD). There is no information at this time on other Canon divisions offering this service.

Update: Canon Canada has now announced this service:

Thank you for using Canon products.

Effective Dec 1st 2010, Canon will start to provide as a chargeable service, a locking mode dial modification for the “EOS 5D MarkII” and “EOS 7D” digital single-lens reflex cameras.

This modification is available, for a fee, to owners of these cameras who would prefer a Mode Dial which locks in place and can’t be accidentally moved during normal camera operation.

For Canadian residents, the pricing of the locking mode dial modification service for EOS 5D Mark II and 7D cameras has been set at $110 per camera as of December, 2010. (Pricing and availability subject to change without notice.) For further details, see contact information for inquiries below.

Once modified, users must first press and hold down the central lock-release button in order to turn the Mode Dial. The modification is intended to prevent the Mode Dial from accidentally moving, once set to a particular exposure mode by the user.

Applicable Products

EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Cameras
EOS 7D Digital SLR Cameras

Contact Information for Inquiries

Canon Canada Inc.
Customer Information Centre
Phone:1-800-OK-CANON (toll free)
1-800-652-2666
Support options and hours of operation: Monday to Friday 9AM to 8PM ET (excluding holidays)

(Thanks Bill)

Update 2: Canon USA now offering the upgrade service:

Effective December 6, 2010, Canon will start to provide as a chargeable service, a locking mode dial modification for the “EOS 5D MarkII” and “EOS 7D” digital single-lens reflex cameras.

This modification is available, for a fee, to owners of these cameras who would prefer a Mode Dial which locks in place and can’t be accidentally moved during normal camera operation.

For USA residents, the pricing of the locking mode dial modification service for EOS 5D Mark II and 7D cameras has been set at $100 per camera as of December, 2010. (Pricing and availability subject to change without notice.) For further details, see contact information for inquiries below.

Once modified, users must first press and hold down the central lock-release button in order to turn the Mode Dial. The modification is intended to prevent the Mode Dial from accidentally moving, once set to a particular exposure mode by the user.

Applicable Products
EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Cameras
EOS 7D Digital SLR Cameras

Thank you,
Customer Support Operations
Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Contact Information for Inquiries:
Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon Customer Support Center
Phone: 1-800-OK-CANON / 1-800-652-2666
TTD: 1-866-251-3752
E-mail: carecenter@cits.canon.com

Support options and hours of operation: http://www.usa.canon.com/support

Press release: DxO Optics Pro v6.5.1 and Discount