Articles from April 2011

Getty Images has acquired image copyright identification company PicScout. PicScout has a series of image identifying and copyright association technologies. These allow photographers and copyright holders to find unlicensed image use and to make associations back from an image to the copyright holder, to make it easy for would-be users to legitimately licence an image. Getty Images explains the acquisition will provide its contributors with more tools for protecting the copyright of their images and provide licensing information for their content.

Phase One has updated its Capture One PRO 6 and Express 6 Raw workflow software. Version 6.2 brings additional features and extends RAW support to cameras including the Nikon D7000, Canon EOS 600D/Rebel T3i and 1100D/Rebel T3, Fujifilm X100 and Samsung NX series cameras. The update is available for immediate download from the company's website.

Nikon has formally announced the AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G lens for both DX and FX DSLRs. The lens, whose details had previously been revealed by the company, features a totally new optical formula featuring an aspherical element - an unusual feature for this type of optic. The 50mm F1.8G features a built-in AF-S focus motor to allow autofocus with all Nikon DSLRs. The company says it expects the lens to retail for around $219.95/£199/€229 including a lens hood, pitching it around the same level as the Nikkor AF-S 35mm F1.8G and making it an accessible (if slightly short) portrait lens for owners of Nikon's APS-C DSLRs.

Since we released the major upgrade of our product database pages four weeks ago, we have been hard at work fixing bugs, refining details and addressing your feedback. We’ve reached the point where all the major issues have been addressed and everything is running along smoothly. Our development team will be moving on to work on other new features, but first we wanted to give you an update on what’s been done over the past few weeks.

Canon has posted a firmware update for its EOS 7D digital SLR. Firmware v1.2.5 fixes bugs relating to stills and video recording with specific CF cards and image stabilization with specific lenses in custom setting mode. The latest version also improves read/write speeds when using UDMA 7 compatible CF cards. The firmware is available for immediate download from Canon's website.

Just posted: Our in-depth review of the Nikon D5100. Sitting between the entry-level D3100 and the upper mid-level D7000, the D5100 is a hard camera to categorise. It combines the user-friendly ergonomics of the D3100 with the impressive 16MP CMOS sensor of the D7000, but throws in a couple of neat tricks of its own, including an articulated LCD screen, and a set of all-new 'Effects' modes. So is the Nikon D5100 just an entry-level camera with delusions of grandeur, or is it a wolf in sheep's clothing? Read our 23-page in-depth review to find out.

Nikon has posted a firmware update for its D7000 digital SLR. Firmware v1.02 brings a host of bug fixes and improvements relating to noise reduction, movie playback and editing, and RAW processing with Capture NX 2 or ViewNX 2. The firmware is available for immediate download from the company's website.

Olympus has released a firmware update for its XZ-1 enthusiast compact. Version 1.2 adds the ability to manually change orientation of images during playback.

Fujifilm has released a firmware update for its Finepix HS20EXR advanced superzoom. Version 1.02 rectifies a bug related to display of temperature warning.

Pentax has released a series of multi-colored variants of its K-r DSLR for the Japanese market. A collaboration with music store Tower Records results in a rainbow-themed version, including colorful Pentax logo and candy-colored handgrip. Meanwhile the company has also introduced a series of camouflaged grips for Japanese customers. These range from the traditional militaristic khaki through to a red and white mélange that will presumably blend in perfectly with the strawberries and cream at Wimbledon. The grips can be ordered with new camera or retro-fitted to existing purchases.

Paris-based software maker Oloneo has launched the final version of its image processing suite, PhotoEngine. The Windows-based software includes RAW processing, HDR merging and a method for combining images shot under different lighting conditions to give control over the individual light sources. The software is based around a 32-bit per channel wide color gamut that allows users to edit tonal range and color with minimum data loss. Priced at $149 / €125, the software wil be available from May 31, 2011, with 25% discount for those who register before that date.

Samsung has announced the W200 rugged pocket camcorder, capable of recording full 1080p30 HD videos. Built around a 5MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor, a 2.3" LCD and a F2.2 lens with anti-fog coating, the camcorder is shockproof to 2m/6.5 ft and waterproof to 3m/10 ft. It will be available from May 2011 at a suggested retail price of $159.

Samsung has announced the ST93 compact camera. The 16MP CCD-based camera offers a 5x optical zoom lens starting at a useful 26mm equivalent. Its features include 720p HD video recording, a Panorama mode, the company's latest Smart filters and Magic Frame templates. Further specifications are not currently available.

Samsung has released firmware updates for its NX10 and NX100 interchangeable lens cameras. The latest firmware for both cameras improves auto-focusing while recording movies and when shooting in low contrast and low light conditions. The firmware also adds Panorama Shot to the available scene modes and an 'i-Function setting help' guide in the menu. In addition, image stabilization (OIS) can now be enabled from the menu for i-Fn lenses that have no OIS switch. The updates are available for immediate download from Samsung's website.

Sigma has announced the winner of its second annual scholarship contest. 17-year-old Andrew Lu from Yorktown Heights, New York has been awarded cash prize of $5,000 and a $1,000 gift card toward Sigma products for his sequence of black and white images.

Just what should we call mirrorless cameras? Ever since the launch of the Micro Four Thirds system, the photographic world has struggled to find a satisfactory generic term to describe similar systems. The current front-runners appear to be 'mirrorless' or 'compact system camera' but there's nothing like consensus yet. We've put some of the more common options and some alternatives we've had suggested to us, in a poll to see how you think of these cameras. It's a chance to have your voice heard, since we've had more than one camera maker ask us which name is most widely recognized. So have a look to the right of this story and register your vote.

Just Posted: Our full, in-depth review of the Canon Rebel T3 / EOS 1100D. The 1100D is the second camera in the budget-focused sub-range of Canon's mainstream Rebel lineup. It's made up of a selection of components we've seen before, including a 12MP CMOS sensor and 9-point AF system that suggest competence at a tempting price. The DSLR market doesn't sit still, though, so can tried-and-tested keep up with more contemporary competitors? And have too many corners been cut in an attempt to make the Rebel T3's price more compelling? Find out in our full review.

Sony has announced the HVL-F43AM external flash for its range of Alpha SLT and SLR cameras. It has a guide number of 43 (at 105mm, ISO 100) and features the same Quick Bounce System as the HVL-F58AM. This allows the position of the flash head to be adjusted quickly for landscape and portrait-format compositions. The HVL-F43AM can be used with Sony's Wireless Ratio Control and is dust and moisture resistant. Also announced is the VCT-55LH Bracket, which can be used to attach various accessories to the Alpha and NEX range cameras, a soft carrying case (the LCS-AMB) designed to protect A-series cameras, and a lens hood (the ALC-SH111) which is designed to fit the DT 35mm f/1.8 and 85mm f/2.8 SAM lenses. 

We've just published the second in a series of articles by Uwe Steinmueller of Digital Outback Photo on the art of HDR photography. The second chapter (of what will eventually become Uwe's next E-book) covers the challenges faced by HDR photographers. Future chapters will cover capture, workflow and advanced HDR techniques. For now, enjoy this exclusive second part of what we hope will develop into a useful manual for anyone interested in getting more of the dynamic range they see in the scenes they photograph into the images and prints they produce.

Cisco has announced it is closing down its Flip pocket camcorder business, two years after acquiring it. According the company, the move is a part of a restructuring of its consumer business as it looks to focus on its core internet equipment activities. The announcement comes as market research company GFK revealed the pocket camcorders, which Flip helped popularize, have been driving camcorder growth and now account for over 50% of total UK sales.

Adobe has announced a software development kit (SDK) to allow the creators of mobile and tablet apps to interact with Photoshop CS5. Along with the SDK, the company has also released three apps for the iPad that allow users to engage with Photoshop in a variety of ways, such as tablet-based a file viewer or a color mixer. Although these apps are written for Apple iOS, the SDK also allows development for devices including Android and BlackBerry. Photoshop CS5 users will need to download a free software patch if they wish to make use of external apps.

Canon has announced an updated version of its EOS E1 plug-in for Apple's Final Cut Pro video-editing software. To be available for download from April 25, v1.2 makes it easier and faster to transfer videos from Canon DSLRs eliminating some steps that were required in the previous version.

Nikon is celebrating the production of its 60 millionth Nikkor lens for its SLR cameras. The lens series was introduced in 1959 with the launch of the Nikkor S Auto 5cm f/2, while SWM was first incorporated in the Ai AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/2.8D IF-ED in 1996. This closely follows a similar announcement marking its 55th million lens in September 2010.

Fujifilm has unveiled the FinePix Z900EXR premium ultra-compact incorporating the company's latest 16MP EXR CMOS sensor. Featuring the same the 460K dot 3.5" LCD of the Z8000EXR, it offers a more useful image-stabilized 28-140m equivalent lens and full 1080p HD movie capture in the H.264 (MOV) format. The camera will be available from May 2011, at a price of $279.95 / £219, in Brilliant Black, Gloss Red, Hot Pink and Royal Blue

Nikon has unveiled the D5100 upper-entry-level DSLR and we've prepared a full preview of the camera, detailing its features. Sitting above the D3100, it includes a 16.2 MP CMOS sensor much like that in the D7000, 1080p movie capability and a side-articulated 921K dot 3.0" tilt/swivel LCD. The D5100 also becomes the first Nikon DSLR to be able to apply special processing filters to stills and video. The company has also introduced the ME-1 external microphone. The camera will be available from this month as a kit with the 18-55mm VR lens for $899.95 while the microphone will retail at $179.99. We've had a production-spec sample of the camera, so have shot our standard test scene and some real-world samples to accompany our preview.