Canon, Nikon and Sony News for Dec 2011 Report News & Deals  ►

From Spider Holster:
 
SPIDER HOLSTER LAUNCHES BLACK WIDOW CAMERA HOLSTER KITS
 
Ideal for Holiday Gift Giving, the Spider Holster Black Widow Kit Combines the Fast-Access Camera Holster with the Black Widow Belt and a New and Improved Black Widow Pad for Added All-Day Comfort
 
Ithaca, NY – December 19, 2011 – Spider Holster, (http://www.spiderholster.com) a company specializing in unique holster-style carrying solutions for photographers, today announced it has started shipping its Spider Holster Black Widow Kit which offers a comfortable and secure carrying solution for entry-level DSLRs and other small-body cameras such as point-and-shoot, micro four thirds, and compact system camera models. Packaging the heavy-duty resin and stainless steel Black Widow Holster unit with all the basic accessories, such as the Black Widow Belt and just updated Black Widow Pad, ensures the optimal carrying comfort for consumer and prosumer photographers. The new and improved Black Widow Pad now includes an additional stabilizing feature to snug the camera’s lens to the Pad for added stability.
 
The Black Widow Camera Holster secures the camera firmly to the photographer’s hip and eliminates the neck, shoulder and back strain caused by cameras dangling from traditional neck straps or shoulder bags, and is perfect for shooters who want to keep their hands free at all times. The Black Widow easily threads onto any standard leather belt or can be worn on the included Black Widow Belt, which complements the holster’s light-weight design to sit comfortably on the hips, and is perfect for use with slightly heavier cameras or when shooting for extended periods of time. Also included in the Kit is the latest evolution of the Black Widow Pad, a comfortable, cushioned extension of the belt that provides a resting place for the camera against the user’s body. This latest version of the Pad also includes an elastic and Velcro lens strap that, when locked in place, prevents the camera from jostling on the hip.
 
“Our Black Widow is rated for cameras up to 4 pounds, and while with smaller cameras most users are comfortable using just the Holster on their own belt, once they break into the DSLR ranges, those extra pounds can become uncomfortable after long days. With the comfort-adding accessories in this kit, users can easily carry their mid-sized DSLR for an entire day with the kids, at a day-long event or throughout an entire vacation,” said Shai Eynav, President of Spider Holster. “For photography enthusiasts that like to have their favorite camera always at the ready, our Black Widow Camera Holster Kit and the latest evolution of our Black Widow Pad provide them with all of the components they will need to comfortably carry their camera to places they never would have thought possible before.”
 
The Spider Holster Black Widow Kit will retail at $65.99. The Kit is available for direct purchase and can be found in major retail outlets throughout the world. For current Black Widow users, the latest version of the Spider Holster Pad featuring the added lens strap, is also available for individual purchase for $15.99. To find a local retail outlet or to learn more about how to stock Spider Holster products, please visit the Spider Holster Black Widow website at: http://www.spiderholster.com/blackwidow/.
 
About Spider Holster
 
Founded by professional photographer Shai Eynav, Spider Holster designs and builds unique camera carrying solutions for photographers. The company’s namesake SpiderPro holster system has quickly become a trusted tool for photographers looking to protect themselves against the neck, shoulder and back strain which often accompany traditional camera straps and shoulder bags while providing quick-draw access and a secure attachment point for even the heaviest pro-DSLRs. More information about Spider Holster and its latest offerings can be found at: http://www.spiderholster.com.
 
B&H carries Spider Holster products.

B&H has the Canon PowerShot S100 Digital Camera (Silver) in stock. These are not expected to last long.

Just posted: Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS Lens Review

My family and I wish you a warm and merry Christmas!

Amazon.com via Norman Camera (trustworthy) has the hard-to-find Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS II USM Lens in stock.

Check out Sean Setters' Magic Lantern: HDR video on 50D post in the forums to see what the Magic Lantern crew has been up to.

From Ilford:
 
ILFORD INTRODUCES GALERIE SMOOTH HIGH GLOSS TO USA
 
Metallic media alternative promises exhibition standard prints for a wide range of professional applications
 
Marly, Switzerland & Avon, CT – December 12, 2011 – ILFORD (http://www.ilford.com), a leading developer and manufacturer of professional quality media for both inkjet printing and color photographic processes, today announced that it is furthering its commitment to developing contemporary inkjet media with the introduction of GALERIE SMOOTH HIGH GLOSS in the USA. The new film-based media promises exhibition standard prints to the growing number of photo professionals choosing to work with inkjet printing, including artists, photographers and museum exhibitors.
 
Available in the USA beginning January 2012, GALERIE SMOOTH HIGH GLOSS is a metallic media alternative offering enhanced definition and extended tonal range for the highest quality professional photo look. Developed by the team of ILFORD photo experts in Switzerland, the media features an instant dry, universally compatible layer for superior results with both dye and pigment printers. Created for a wide range of professional applications, GALERIE SMOOTH HIGH GLOSS is available in 8.5 x 11”, A4, A3+ and 24” roll formats.
 
ILFORD introduces GALERIE SMOOTH HIGH GLOSS as the photographic market continues to evolve from chemical photographic processes towards the use of inkjet media. This worldwide trend has brought with it the decline of products such as ILFOCHROME CLASSIC, which is to be discontinued following the deadline for final orders on 19 December 2011. ILFORD is pleased to recommend GALERIE SMOOTH HIGH GLOSS as an inkjet alternative to ILFOCHROME, with the media’s metallic surface offering comparable results.
 
“ILFORD has long been a technological leader in the print media industry, and with many of our users and labs adopting a purely digital workflow we are proud to possess the technological capabilities necessary to offer customers professional quality inkjet alternatives to traditional photographic media.” Says Jane Dixon, Director of Global Marketing at ILFORD. “Some of our customers may remember the previous incarnation of GALERIE SMOOTH HIGH GLOSS which was very popular with photography professionals, and we are now pleased to introduce it as an alternative to metallic media following modifications by our team of experts in Switzerland.”
 
GALERIE SMOOTH HIGH GLOSS joins the already diverse array of GALERIE products designed for use in the professional inkjet market place, including the traditional baryta fibre based media GALERIE GOLD FIBRE SILK, also favored amongst photographers wishing to explore inkjet alternatives to traditional media.
 
About ILFORD GALERIE
 
GALERIE Professional Inkjet range is designed specifically to meet the demanding needs of today’s professional inkjet marketplace. ILFORD is dedicated to developing products that deliver superior images and with GALERIE combines state-of-the-art inkjet technology with more than a century of experience in the craft of image making.
 
About ILFORD
 
Founded in 1879, ILFORD is a leading player in the development and manufacture of photo quality media and other consumables for both inkjet printing and color photographic processes. The worldwide digital imaging and color photographic businesses, which include R&D and manufacturing operations in Switzerland, are owned by Paradigm Global Partners LLP.
 
The ILFORD name is well established in the history of imaging and today continues to be associated with cutting edge technology thanks to its strong links to the photo imaging marketplace, research and development, technical know-how and manufacturing capabilities.
 
For more information on ILFORD, please visit http://www.ilford.com/
 
B&H carries Ilford products.

I added a few location-specific galleries to the site:
 
Sequoia National Park Pictures
 
Kings Canyon National Park Pictures
 
Big Sur, California Pictures
 
These were short-duration trips.

Nikon Capture NX 2.3.0 (USA) | (Europe) is now available for download.
 
Modifications that apply to both the Windows and Macintosh versions

• Lens information is now displayed in the Metadata palette for images captured with the Nikon 1 V1 or Nikon 1 J1 using the Mount Adapter FT1 and a CPU lens.
• Support for images captured with the Nikon 1 V1 and Nikon 1 J1 using the Mount Adapter FT1 has been added.
• An Astro Noise Reduction option has been added to Noise Reduction in the Camera Settings portion of the Develop section in the Edit List palette. This option reduces the randomly spaced bright pixels that occur in images of stars captured with long exposures.
• An Auto2 option has been added to New WB under White Balance in the Camera Settings portion of the Develop section in the Edit List palette. This option is available with RAW images taken with the COOLPIX P7100.
• When white balance is changed to Auto2 and a settings file saved, a white balance setting of Recorded Value will be applied if the settings file is used on a RAW image that does not support the Auto2 white balance setting.
• When Set Gray Point was selected from White Balance in the Camera Settings portion of the Develop section in the Edit List palette, and the image clicked to specify a portion to use as the gray point, the point selected was sometimes not accurately reflected in the resulting white balance if the image had first been rotated. This issue has been resolved.

 
Additional modifications to the Windows version

• This software now operates as a native 64-bit application under the 64-bit versions of Windows 7 and Windows Vista.
• An Embed Preview When Saving NEF/NRW item with Thumbnail and Preview and Thumbnail only options has been added to the General panel of the Preferences accessed from the Edit menu.
• In addition, preview images can later be added to NEF/NRW files saved without embedding them using the new Update Preview option in the Browser palette context menu and File menu.
• The default setting for the Use Image Cache option in the Cache Settings panel of the Preferences, accessed from the Edit menu, has been changed to off (not checked).
• When Capture NX 2 Ver. 2.3.0 is installed with the Use Image Cache option enabled (checked) with the previous version of Capture NX 2, Use Image Cache will be disabled (unchecked) and cached data will be deleted.
• An issue that resulted in inconsistent display of images in the Browser palette and images inside the folder selected in the Folders palette has been resolved.
• When a batch process was run for images captured with simultaneous RAW + JPEG recording by selecting Run Batch Process from the Batch menu with a new naming convention applied to the RAW and JPEG images, new files were not always created for the selected images. This issue has been resolved.
• An issue that caused the Folders, Browser, and Metadata palettes to be shifted down when Windows was set to display the taskbar at the top of the desktop has been resolved.
• When Set as Default Printer was applied to some printers with Windows, a Capture NX 2 stops working error message was displayed when Capture NX 2 was exited. This issue has been resolved.
• When tone curves were edited using Adjust menu>Light>Levels & Curves, Adjust menu>Color>LCH, or Quick Fix in the Develop section of the Edit List palette, positions of anchor points changed unexpectedly. This issue has been resolved.
• When the mouse cursor was positioned over the Set Black Point button in the Levels & Curves dialog, accessed via the Adjust menu>Light, to display an explanation of the feature, white point information was displayed. This issue has been resolved. (French version only)

 
Additional modifications to the Macintosh version

• This software now operates as a native 64-bit application under Mac OS.
• An Embed Preview When Saving NEF/NRW item with Thumbnail and Preview and Thumbnail only options has been added to the General panel of the Preferences accessed from the Capture NX 2 menu.
• In addition, preview images can later be added to NEF/NRW files saved without embedding them using the new Update Preview option in the Browser palette context menu and File menu.
• The default setting for the Use Image Cache option in the Cache Settings panel of the Preferences, accessed from the Capture NX 2 menu, has been changed to off (not checked).
• When Capture NX 2 Ver. 2.3.0 is installed with the Use Image Cache option enabled (checked) with the previous version of Capture NX 2, Use Image Cache will be disabled (unchecked) and cached data will be deleted.
• When the selection brush was used to edit an image with the image window displayed at a large size (1980 × 1080, 1512 × 1008, etc.), Capture NX 2 sometimes quit unexpected. This issue has been resolved.

Nikon ViewNX 2.2.5 (USA) | (Europe) is now available for download.
 
Modifications enabled with version 2.2.5:
 
Modifications that apply to both the Windows and Macintosh versions

• Auto 2 is now available for selection from the list of White Balance settings in the Adjustments palette for RAW images captured with the COOLPIX P7100.
• An issue that prevented display of Exposure mode in the Metadata palette for images captured underwater in Easy Auto mode with the COOLPIX AW100/AW100s has been resolved.
• An Event box has been added under Description in the Metadata palette.
• Lens information is now displayed in the Metadata palette for images captured with the Nikon 1 V1 or Nikon 1 J1 using the Mount Adapter FT1 and a CPU lens.

 
Additional modifications to the Macintosh version

• Support for Mac OS X version 10.7 has been added.

 
Additional modifications to the Windows version

• An issue that prevented the editing of metadata, application of labels and/or ratings, or image rotation on some systems has been resolved.

A production 1D X body has not become available to me yet, but based on information provided by Canon and a short time with a preproduction camera, I have the Canon EOS-1D X Review started.

SanDisk Press release:
 
PANASONIC, SAMSUNG, SANDISK, SONY AND TOSHIBA JOIN FORCES TO COLLABORATE ON NEXT GENERATION SECURE MEMORY SOLUTION
 
Five Companies plan to jointly form 'Next Generation Secure Memory Initiative'
 
December 19th, 2011-Panasonic Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SanDisk Corporation, Sony Corporation and Toshiba Corporation today announced that they have reached an agreement in principle to collaborate on a new content protection technology for flash memory cards such as SD Cards and various storage devices. Under the "Next Generation Secure Memory Initiative"*1
 
The five companies will start preparing for licensing and promotion of HD (high-definition)-capable security for SD Cards and embedded memory for use in advanced consumer applications such as tablets and smartphones.
 
This content protection solution will be robust enough to protect HD content. A high level of content security will be realized through the use of the initiative's technologies, including unique ID (identification) technology for flash memory and robust copy protection based on public key infrastructure.
 
The five companies believe this technology will enable various HD content applications such as HD network download, broadcast content to go and HD Digital Copy/Managed Copy from Blu-ray Disc™*2 media.With these applications, users can enjoy HD content on a wide range of devices, including Android™*3-based smartphones and tablets, TVs and Blu-ray™*4 products.
 
The five companies believe that they each can make substantial contributions that, when combined, will enable them to start licensing the new secure memory technology early next year. The five companies expect to see adoption of flash memory products and various embedded flash memory solutions using this technology in the market in 2012.
 
"Panasonic has always been an innovator in providing the best possible content viewing experience in the living room through development of Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D™ technologies and products" said Yoshiyuki Miyabe, Corporate CTO, Panasonic Corporation. "With our new secure memory solution, we are excited to create a strong link between the living room experience and the mobile experience. Now consumers can enjoy watching premier content, such as movies, on the go with their smartphones and tablets".
 
"Samsung believes that the time is ripe for an advanced security solution and welcomes the opportunity to deliver a highly viable solution using flash memory chips. Samsung's ongoing commitment to technology excellence will now further extend to early market availability of high-performance NAND technologies implementing the new advanced security solution," said Young-Hyun Jun, Executive Vice President, Memory Business, Samsung Electronics. Co., Ltd.
 
"Consumers are ready for a solution that enables the effortless consumption of online and offline content across multiple device platforms," said Sumit Sadana, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for SanDisk. "SanDisk looks forward to building on its history of innovation in the Flash industry by delivering optimized memory solutions to enable this new usage model with robust security technologies that can protect premium content."
 
"We believe the secure solution created by this initiative will enable customers to enjoy high quality experiences anytime, anywhere. Sony has always been focused on bringing amazing experiences to people through highly-advanced technologies in content creation, content distribution and picture display," said Hiroshi Yoshioka, Corporate Executive Officer and Executive Deputy President, Sony Corporation.
 
"This technology will open a new door to flash memory applications. As a flash memory manufacturer, we are pleased that our flash memory technology will contribute to bringing people more convenient and exciting experiences of HD content. We will continue our development efforts to create surprising innovation," said Yasuo Naruke, Corporate Vice President, Vice President, Memory Division, Semiconductor & Storage Products Company, Toshiba Corporation.
 
About 'Next Generation Secure Memory Initiative'
 
'Next Generation Secure Memory Initiative' (a tentative name) is a collaboration of Panasonic, Samsung, SanDisk, Sony and Toshiba to license and promote HD (high-definition)-capable security for SD Cards and embedded memory for use in advanced consumer applications such as tablets and smartphones. For the details, please visit http://nextgenerationsecurememory.com/
 
*1 "Next Generation Secure Memory Initiative" is the tentative name, it will be decided later.
 
*2 "Blu-ray Disc", "Blu-ray" and "Blu-ray 3D" are trademarks of Blu-ray Disc Association
 
*3 "Android" is a trademark of Google Inc.
 
*4 "Blu-ray Disc", "Blu-ray" and "Blu-ray 3D" are trademarks of Blu-ray Disc Association

From DxO Optics:
 
DxO Optics Pro 7.1 now available!
 
The new version features enhanced stability and even faster processing speed.
 
Special 33% discount good through December 24, 2011.
 
More than 150 DxO Optics Modules have been added in DxO Optics Pro, allowing surpassing the landmark milestone of 5,000 DxO Optics Modules.
 
Both the Standard and Elite editions of version 7.1 support five additional cameras: the Sony Alpha 65, the Panasonic G3, and the Olympus E-P3, E-PL3, and E-PM1.
 
Thanks to better system resource management, the use of OpenCL technology with Windows, and the optimization of numerous algorithms, DxO Optics Pro 7 can process batches of photos up to 4 times faster than previous versions. Version 7.1 includes many enhancements to DxO Optics Pro’s image processing engine, making it even faster and more efficient for certain configurations.
 
For more information, visit the DxO Optics website.

B&H has the new Nikon SB-910 AF Speedlight i-TTL Shoe Mount Flash in stock.

The Canon Professional Network has posted: EOS-1D X on film: Pt. 4 – Mechanics and Controls