October 28, 2005 Better color management for Windows XP. New Microsoft Color Control Panel Applet for Windows XP helps you manage Windows color settings in one place. Professional-level photographers and designers know that getting consistent, accurate color from file to screen to print and beyond is a requirement for great results. On Microsoft Windows XP, the means to obtain great color is built right into the operating system via Image Color Management (ICM) 2.0. ICM 2.0 is an International Color Consortium (ICC)-compliant color management system exposed through Win32 API functions, so it is readily available to any application, device driver, device calibration tool, or Color Management Module (CMM). Windows itself and many Windows-based software applications use ICM 2.0 "under the covers" to improve the appearance of pictures and graphics. However, until now Windows has lacked a central Control Panel interface for managing ICC color profiles and ICM 2.0 color settings across the system. The new Microsoft Color Control Panel Applet for Windows XP addresses this by adding a Color tool to the Windows Control Panel, making it easier for you to manage Windows color settings. Click here for more info and to download the applet.
October 28, 2005 - Service Notice for EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens We have recently discovered a problem with early production samples of the EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens in which flare occurs at an unacceptable level under certain conditions. The flare is most obvious in the wide zoom and wide aperture settings. ( The problem affects all EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lenses with a control number less than UT1000. With apologies for the inconvenience involved, we ask customers to check the control number on the back of the lens. Click here for the full notice
October 27, 2005 - Canon EOS 20D/20Da firmware update v2.0.3 The second firmware update from Canon today relates to the EOS 20D and the astrophotography version of the same camera,
This firmware update (version 2.0.3) incorporates the following additions and improvements:
This fIrmware update applies to cameras with firmware versions up to 2.0.2 installed. If your camera's firmware is already version 2.0.3, it is not necessary to perform this update. Click here for the 20D update Click here for the 20DA update
October 27, 2005 - Canon Rebel XT firmware update v1.0.3 Canon has today announced a firmware update for its affordable DSLR, the Rebel XT. Version 1.0.3
This firmware update incorporates the following improvements:
This firmware update applies to cameras with firmware versions up to 1.0.2 installed. By installing this update, the phenomena will be fixed, and the affected cameras can be used without these problems. If your camera's firmware is already version 1.0.3, it is not necessary to perform this update. Click her for the update
October 24, 2005 - Nikon announces Picture Project software update version 1.6.1 - For windows - the new version corrects an issue that caused an error to occur, with some computer systems, when photos were played back in a slide show. For the MAC - Support for Mac OS X version 10.4 (Tiger) has been added. Portions of the Color Management panel in the Preferences dialog, displayed from the application menu, have been changed. - The Open ColorSync button has been removed and the RGB Default and CMYK Default settings are now selected from pull-down menus. Click here to download the updater for Windows Click here to download the updater for MAC
EXTENSIS Releases Portfolio 8 PhotoPlus Expo, New York, NY. - October 20th, 2005 - Extensis, a division of Celartem, Inc., today announced Portfolio 8, a major advance in its digital asset management (DAM) solution. The new version of Portfolio provides industrial-strength workflow features to organize and route digital files utilizing visual catalogs and embedded metadata, making it fast and easy to find and share valuable branding collateral within the asset creation workgroups and externally with global partners. The Portfolio 8 product family includes a standalone version, Client/Server solution; as well as NetPublish and SQL Connect Modules. Click here for the full announcement
October 20, 2005 - Germany's Agfa Nearing the End It appears iconic German consumer photography firm Agfa Photo will likely face liquidation at the end of the year, a victim of digital technology and missed opportunity. Stalled takeover talks with the British company Photo-Me International (PMI) will most likely spell the end of the road for the traditional German photo company. Agfa Photo has been operating under bankruptcy protection since May. The firm said it will end operations by the end of the year, after using up its warehoused materials. Its 1,700 workers will likely be out of a job. Click Here for details
Kodak Announces Highest Resolution Image Sensors for Professional Photography Rochester, NY, October 20, 2005 – Eastman Kodak Company has once again set the quality standard for digital imaging with new high-resolution image sensors that allow commercial, studio and other professional photographers to capture digital images with the most life-like detail possible. These new products strengthen Kodak’s position as a leading image sensor supplier to a wide variety of markets, and reinforce strategic product and partnership announcements made earlier this year that target mass-market consumer applications. Already the world’s leading supplier of image sensors for medium-format professional photography, Kodak is expanding its product line with the introduction of the world’s highest resolution sensors for professional photography. The KODAK KAF-39000 Image Sensor, featuring 39 million pixels, and the KODAK KAF-31600 Image Sensor, with 31.6 million pixels, offer professional camera and camera back manufacturers resolution and image detail that was once unimaginable for digital cameras, allowing photographers to experience a new level of image quality for portrait, wedding, landscape, fashion, studio and commercial photography. These new CCD image sensors have already been selected for use by Phase One A/S for use in their upcoming P45 and P30 digital camera backs. Click here for the press release
October 19 2005 - Apple Introduces Aperture The first all-in-one post production tool that provides everything photographers need after the shoot, Aperture offers an advanced and incredibly fast RAW workflow that makes working with a camera’s RAW images as easy as JPEG. Built from the ground up for pros, Aperture features powerful compare and select tools, nondestructive image processing, color managed printing and custom web and book publishing. Click here for more info
Breeze Systems - BreezeBrowser Pro v1.3 released 14 October 2005 The professional tool for viewing, enhancing and presenting your digital images including raw conversion, lossless rotation of JPEG Images and automated templates for creating sophisticated web page galleries. Now includes Canon EOS 5D and 1D mark II N raw conversion, lens distortion correction and support for controlled vocabularies. Click here for details
October 17 2005 Panorama Factory announces the release of Panorama Factory V 4.0 You can download now and try it for 30 days before you buy save $$ if you purchase by November 30! regular price: $69.95 purchase now for only $59.95 version upgrade: $29.95 upgrade now for only $24.95 risk free 30-days
CANON announces: EOS-1Ds Mark II Firmware Update Version 1.1.4
This firmware update (version 1.1.4) includes the following improvements:
Note for users of the Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E1/E1A: The camers's WFT-E1/E1A settings will be initialized after the firmware is updated. Please re-set them after the update. This firmware update applies to cameras with firmware version up to 1.1.3 installed. If your camera's firmware is already version 1.1.4, it is not necessary to perform this update. Click here for the link to download the update.
CANON announces: EOS-1D Mark II Firmware Update Version 1.2.4
This firmware update (version 1.2.4) includes the following improvements:
Fix the phenomenon of file number errors that occurred when shooting bulb exposures.
Improves reliability in communication when using some CF cards.
Note for users of the Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E1/E1A:
The camers's WFT-E1/E1A settings will be initialized after the firmware is updated. Please re-set them after the update.
This firmware update applies to cameras with firmware version up to 1.2.3 installed. If your camera's firmware is already version 1.2.4, it is not necessary to perform this update. Click here for the link to download the update.
PENTAX and Korea's Samsung Techwin reach an agreement to jointly develop lens-interchangeable digital SLR cameras October 11, 2005 - Seoul, Korea — PENTAX and Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd. today signed an agreement allowing both parties to combine their unique technologies to develop interchangeable lens digital SLR cameras. For generations transcending the history of film cameras, PENTAX has accumulated wide-ranging know-how in the development and manufacture of SLR cameras. And through the optimal application of its optical technologies and experience in interchangeable lenses, PENTAX has extended its expertise and unshakable brand power to the development, manufacture and sales of digital cameras. Samsung Techwin also develops and manufactures high-quality digital cameras through actively taking advantage of the diverse digital technologies of Samsung Group working in the fields of digital media and semiconductor products. Achieving satisfying growth through its marketing activities centered on its domestic market of Korea, Samsung Techwin is dedicated to enhanced marketing on a global scale. Through combining their individual strengths and working together in synergy, PENTAX and Samsung Techwin are devoted to supplying attractive digital camera products tailored to the needs of individual markets.
October 10, 2005 - Fujifilm USA Announces FinePix S3 Pro Price Reduction and Promotion Fujifilm today announced a $500 price drop ($2499 to $1999) on their FinePix S3 Pro Digital SLR and also announced a free S3 Pro Power promotion package worth $400 for photographers purchasing a FinePix S3 Pro between October 1st, 2005 and November 30th, 2005. The free package includes Stitcher 4.0 from RealVix, an extra FinePix S3 Pro battery tray, a battery charger and a flexible, white balance card for easy and accurate camera calibration. In addition, professional photographers purchasing a FinePix S3 Pro* between October 1, 2005 and November 30, 2005, can also receive a FinePix S3 Pro Power Promotion package worth $400. The highlight of this free package is Stitcher 4.0 from RealViz, a software program for the PC that gives professional photographers the power to create panoramas from individual photos in just a few mouse clicks. Other items in the FinePix S3 Pro Power Promotion package include an extra FinePix S3 Pro battery tray, a battery charger and a flexible, white balance card for easy and accurate camera calibration. Promotion details can be found at www.fujifilm.com/S3PowerPromo. *Fujifilm U.S.A. warranted serial number required for promotion eligibility.
October 2005 - Canon Issues Advisory Defective sensors in certain cameras - Canon will repair at no charge. Affected Cameras Digital Cameras PowerShot A60, PowerShot A70, PowerShot A75, PowerShot A300, PowerShot A310, Digital IXUS V3, Digital IXUS II, Digital IXUS IIs Digital Video Cameras MV600i, MV630i, MV650i, MV700i, MV730i, MV750i, MV5i, MV5i MC, MV6i MC ZR60, ZR65 MC, ZR70 MC, ZR80, ZR85, ZR90, Elura 40 MC, Elura 50 See full details and service info
Nikon launches D2X "Special Site" Nikon today has launched a "Special Site" devoted to the D2X that includes features on a few photographer. Click here for the site
Digital Photo Professional 2.0.3 released Canon has released Digital Photo Professional 2.0.3 for Mac and Windows, an update to its primary RAW file browsing and processing application. The update fixes incompatibilities with the Mac OS and addresses problems problems in earlier v2.x releases found on EOS Solution Disk 11 (which is bundled with the EOS 5D and EOS-1D Mark II N). Click here to download the software
October 3, 2005 Nikon Capture updated to v4.3.2
Nikon has released v4.3.2 of Nikon Capture for Windows and Mac. This is a bug fix release, addressing a problem in v4.3.1 that would cause Nikon Capture Editor to quit in some cases "when images were adjusted using the Color Boost slider displayed by selecting Better Quality (HQ) in the D-Lighting palette. Windows version Mac version
October 3, 2005 - Epson releases a series of firmware and driver updates for its inkjet printers Click here to go to the Epson Site