Canon, Nikon and Sony News for Dec 2010 (Page 2) Report News & Deals  ►

Standardized test results have been added to the Zeiss 28mm f/2.0 Distagon T* ZE Lens Review page.

From Think Tank Photo:
 
When getting the shot requires extreme body movements, there are few sensations more annoying than having your gear slapping against your chest. To solve this problem, we have released the Backpack Connection Kit.
 
This accessory strap kit is designed to keep the body and lens stored in your Digital Holster stationary and snug against the torso. Carrying a Digital Holster V2.0 chest-mounted allows rapid access to the DSLR inside it while protecting the camera from dust and damage. The straps of the specially designed Backpack Connection Kit keep the Holster bag and DSLR from sagging or shifting weight during continuous movement.
 
In the Backpack Connection Kit video, Kurt Rogers explains how to attach the Think Tank Photo Backpack Connection Kit to a backpack, in order to carry a Digital Holster V2.0 bag on the backpack harness. The Backpack Connection Kit attaches to any Think Tank Photo backpack and the Digital Holster V2.0 series of camera bags.

Firmware Update Version 1.0.8 is now available for the Canon EOS 60D.
 
Firmware version 1.0.8 incorporates the following fix:
 
Fixes a phenomenon in which captured images may become overexposed when using the camera's built-in flash or an external Speedlite in combination with the lenses listed below:
 
a) EF300/4 L IS USM
b) EF28-135/3.5-5.6 IS USM
c) EF75-300/4-5.6 IS USM
d) EF100-400/4.5-5.6 L IS USM

Sample pictures have been added to the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro DX Lens Review.

DxO Labs is pleased to announce the immediate availability of DxO Optics Pro v6.5.2 for Mac and Windows that adds RAW support in both its Standard and Elite editions for the Pentax K-5, the Sony NEX-5 and NEX-3.
 
Further, 50 new DxO Optics Modules are now available to DxO Optics Pro users, covering numerous Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony cameras.
 
You can download a fully-functional trial version for free: Free trial version.
 
Read the release note

Standardized test results have been added to the Zeiss 18mm f/3.5 Distagon T* ZE Lens Review page.
 
Zeiss Lens Test Update: I will be adding results for the rest of the Zeiss ZE lenses to the site over the next few days. I have changed out some test equipment and the flaring shown in the initial test of this group of lenses is far reduced. The actual cause of which I remain uncertain.

Your hard drive is going to fail. It is not a question of "if" it will fail, but "when" it is going to happen. If your drive failed right now, what would you lose?
 
This topic is especially hot to me as I'm dealing with a partially failed SSD drive right now (bad block). While this problem has cost me a LOT of time this week (my most precious resource), I have not lost any data or files.
 
I talk briefly about my backup strategy on my Digital Workflow page. There are many good ways to store copies of your data (including some online services), but the device I use most (and the device that saved me this time) is the Western Digital 1TB My Passport Essential SE Portable USB 2.0 Hard Drive (B&H).
 
I have 10 of these in my current backup rotation (along with many additional small capacity drives). They are very small (easy to take off site) and have given me no problems to date. The autorun software is a pain, but there are fixes available for this. I just turned off autorun.
 
This is the second primary drive failure I have experienced in less than two years. Backup what you care about!

Apple Aperture 3.1.1 is now available. This update addresses overall stability and performance issues, and also includes specific fixes that:
 
1. address compatibility with the iLife Media Browser
 
2. improve reliability when upgrading existing Aperture libraries
 
3. address issues with publishing photos to MobileMe, Facebook and Flickr
 
The update is recommended for all users of Aperture 3.
 
For detailed information on this update, please visit this website: support.apple.com/kb/TS2518

Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 9.0.1 update is now available for download.
 
The Adobe Photoshop Elements 9.0.1 update will install a patch on top of Adobe Photoshop Elements 9. It provides a fix to the Spot Healing Brush when used in Content Aware mode. This update is only applicable to Photoshop Elements 9 running on a Windows OS.

Press Release: Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Lens

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.