Digital Journal of Photography

Limited edition black Fuji X100 starts shipping

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:13:00 +0000

Fujifilm's X100 Black Premium Edition (limited to just 10,000 units worldwide) is now shipping and available for purchase. Pleas follow the links here to purchase:

Adorama $1,699.95.

B&H Photo $1699.00.

Wex (UK) £1,299.00 GBP (still showing as pre-order)

Thank you for buying through this site's links.

Fujifilm X100 concise review

Sony NEX-7 in stock at Jessops

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 10:36:00 +0000

UK dealer, Jessops, has finished taking pre-orders on the NEX-7 and are now able to supply from stock. Supplies of the camera suffered a series of delays after the flooding in Vietnam, where the 24MP camera is manufactured. I've just reviewed the NEX-7 for Hotshoe International and found it incredibly accomplished. In my opinion it's the best stills/video camera Sony has ever made, and I hope to have a in-depth review on this site, in due course.

To buy from Jessops, please follow the link here.

Sony 24mm f/1.8 Zeiss Sonnar T* sample images

Sigma announces price and availability of new 19mm f/2.8 EX DN

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 10:13:00 +0000

Sigma Imaging (UK) has announced that the suggested retail price of the new 19mm F2.8 EX DN will be £169.99 inc VAT. The new lens will be available in the UK by the end of March in both Micro Four Thirds and Sony E-Mount fittings.

Please help support the DJP by visiting our affiliates; Jessops, Warehouse Express, Adorama Camera and Amazon. Note; sales through these links may benefit this site.

Press Release

19mm F2.8 EX DN
Wide-angle lens for Micro Four Thirds and Sony E-mount cameras

Sigma Imaging (UK) Ltd is pleased to announce that the suggested retail price of the new 19mm F2.8 EX DN is £169.99. This new lens will be available in the UK by the end of March in both the Micro Four Thirds and Sony E-Mount fittings.

This high-performance wide angle lens is designed exclusively for mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras and has the equivalent angle of view as a 38mm (35mm equivalent focal length) on the Micro Four Thirds systems and 28.5mm (35mm equivalent focal length) on the E-mount system.

Three glass mold aspherical lenses provide excellent correction for distortion, color aberration and field curvature. The inner focusing system corrects the fluctuation of aberration to maintain image quality regardless of the focus distance. Sigma’s Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting and provides sharp and high contrast images even at the maximum aperture. The superior telecentric optical design improves image quality throughout the frame. This lens benefits from a newly developed linear AF motor which moves the lens elements directly without the need for gears or the drive of other mechanical parts. This system ensures accurate and quiet autofocusing, making the lens suitable for video recording as well as still photos.

The lens features a rounded 7 blade diaphragm creating an attractive blur to the out of focus areas of the image. This Sigma 19mm F2.8 EX DN has a minimum focusing distance of 20cm/7.9in and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:7.4.

SIGMA DN Lens: High-performance lenses, designed exclusively for mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. The latest technology for the lens design ensures high optical performance, a compact construction and quiet autofocusing. The superior telecentricity assures sharp and high resolution image quality across the entire image plane.

Sigma CEO defends SD1 Merrill price reduction

Hard to find Sony 24mm f/1.8 Zeiss Sonnar T* in stock at Jessops

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 23:54:00 +0000

UK dealer Jessops has stock currently of the hard to find Sony 24mm f/1.8 Zeiss Sonnar T* at £849.95 (inc VAT). Sony Japan issued a statement last Friday apologising for the shortage. The lens started shipping in December last year but it appears only in small quantities. With demand higher than expected Sony says it's doing it all can to fulfill orders.

To buy, please click here. Thank you for buying through this site's links.

Sony 24mm f/1.8 Zeiss Sonnar T* sample images

Apple announces new iPad 3

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:41:00 +0000

To pre-order the new third-generation iPad (starting from £399.00 inc VAT), please follow the link here. Please note the iPad 2 is still in range but now reduced, starting from £329.00, please click here to buy.

Thank you for buying through this site's links.

Press Release

Apple Launches New iPad

New iPad Features Retina Display, A5X Chip, 5 Megapixel iSight Camera & Ultrafast 4G LTE

SAN FRANCISCO―March 7, 2012―Apple today introduced the new iPad, the third generation of its category defining mobile device, featuring a stunning new Retina display, Apple’s new A5X chip with quad-core graphics and a 5 megapixel iSight camera with advanced optics for capturing amazing photos and 1080p HD video. iPad with Wi-Fi + 4G connects to fast networks worldwide, including AT&T’s and Verizon’s 4G LTE networks, and still delivers the same all-day 10 hour battery life* while remaining amazingly thin and light. Beginning today, iPad 2 will be offered at an even more affordable price starting at just £329 inc VAT.

“The new iPad redefines the category Apple created less than two years ago, delivering the most amazing experience people have ever had with technology,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The new iPad now has the highest resolution display ever seen on a mobile device with 3.1 million pixels, delivering razor sharp text and unbelievable detail in photos and videos.”

The new iPad’s Retina display delivers four times the number of pixels of iPad 2, so dense that the human eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels when held at a normal distance, making web pages, text, images and video look incredibly sharp and realistic. The 3.1 million pixels in the Retina display are more than one million more pixels than an HD TV, and with 44 percent increased colour saturation the new iPad displays colours that are unbelievably richer, deeper and more vivid. Movies are now capable of playing at full 1080p HD-resolution, delivering an incomparable viewing experience on a mobile device.

The powerful new A5X chip with quad-core graphics was specifically designed by Apple to deliver a fast, responsive user experience while supporting the incredible Retina display. With double the graphics performance of the A5 chip, the A5X provides a superb balance between performance and power efficiency so users can enjoy all the benefits of the stunning new display while experiencing a smooth Multi-Touch interface, immersive gameplay, incredible visual depth and all-day battery life that iPad is known for delivering.

The 5 megapixel iSight camera features advanced optics for taking stunning pictures and recording full HD video. Backside illumination allows you to take great photos in low-light conditions and a new video image stabilisation feature removes the bumps and shakes typically seen when filming with a hand-held device. Images can be enjoyed on the large Retina display, then edited, enhanced and easily shared with friends and family using the built-in Photos app on iPad.

iPad Wi-Fi + 4G with built-in next generation 4G LTE has the most comprehensive support for fast networks worldwide including HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA, and now both CDMA and GSM iPad users have the ability to easily roam internationally. The world-ready iPad delivers blazing download and upload speeds so web pages load incredibly quickly and email with large attachments can be sent and received easily. Personal Hotspot can be used to share the fast network connection on your iPad with up to 5 other devices using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB**.

With iOS 5.1, the latest update to the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, the new iPad has a number of new features and enhancements including: a redesigned Camera app with video stabilisation technology; the ability to delete photos from Photo Stream; support for dictation in English, French, German and Japanese; and Personal Hotspot. iOS 5.1 also works seamlessly with iCloud, a breakthrough set of free cloud services including iTunes in the Cloud, Photo Stream and Documents in the Cloud, that works seamlessly with your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or PC to automatically and wirelessly store your content and push it to your devices. When content changes on one of your devices, your other devices are updated automatically.

The new iPad also supports dictation, another amazing way to get things done just using your voice. Instead of typing, tap the microphone icon on the keyboard, then say what you want to say and the new iPad listens. Tap done, and iPad converts your words into text. You can use dictation to write messages, take notes, search the web and more. Dictation also works with third-party apps, so you can update your Facebook status, tweet, or write Instagram captions.

Apple also introduced the iPhoto app, along with major updates to iMovie and GarageBand, completing its suite of iLife apps for iOS. iLife and the iWork apps, Pages, Keynote and Numbers, have all been updated to take advantage of the new iPad Retina display. iPhoto includes breakthrough Multi-Touch features so you can use simple gestures to sort through hundreds of photos and find your best shots, enhance and retouch your images using fingertip brushes and share stunning photo journals with iCloud. iMovie now gives you the ability to create amazing Hollywood-style trailers as you record HD video, and GarageBand introduces Jam Session, an innovative and fun new feature that allows a group of friends to wirelessly connect to play instruments and record music together live on their iOS devices.

iPad runs almost all of the over 585,000 apps available on the App Store, including more than 200,000 native iPad apps, from a wide range of categories, including books, games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. The iTunes Store puts the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store at your fingertips with a catalog of over 20 million songs, over 90,000 TV episodes and over 15,000 movies. The new iBooks 2 app for iPad lets users experience an entirely new kind of ebook that’s dynamic, engaging and truly interactive. iBooks created with Apple’s new iBooks Author offer gorgeous, fullscreen ebooks with interactive animations, diagrams, photos, videos, unrivaled navigation and much more.

Pricing & Availability
The new iPad Wi-Fi models will be available in black or white on Friday, March 16 for a suggested retail price of £399 inc VAT (£332.50 ex VAT) for the 16GB model, £479 inc VAT (£399.17 ex VAT) for the 32GB model and £559 inc VAT (£465.83 ex VAT) for the 64GB model. iPad Wi-Fi + 4G will be available for a suggested retail price of £499 inc VAT (£415.83 ex VAT) for the 16GB model, £579 inc VAT (£482.50 ex VAT) for the 32GB model and £659 inc VAT (£549.17 ex VAT) for the 64GB model. iPad will be sold in the UK through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores, and select Apple Authorised Resellers. iPad will also be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Switzerland and the US Virgin Islands on Friday, March 16. Customers can begin pre-ordering their new iPad today, and the incredible iPad 2 is now offered at a more affordable price of £329 inc VAT (£274.17 ex VAT) for the 16GB Wi-Fi model and just £429 inc VAT (£357.50 ex VAT) for the 16GB Wi-Fi + 3G model.

iOS 5.1 and iTunes 10.6 are available today as free software updates. iPhoto, iMovie 1.3 and GarageBand 1.2 are available today for £2.99 each from the App Store. Keynote 1.6, Pages 1.6 and Numbers 1.6 are available today for £6.99 each from the App Store. Updates are available for free to existing customers. By the end of March iPad will be available in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

*Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.

**Personal Hotspot requires supporting data plan. Customers should check with their carrier for availability.

Adobe makes Lightroom 4 official, drops price UPDATED

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 07:30:00 +0000

After releasing LR4 public beta earlier in the year, Adobe has now finalised version 4 for general release and lowered the price to an estimated US$149 for new users, US$79 for upgrades. Apart from the new adjustment controls, soft-proofing, books and vide-support (including those .MTS files from the Olympus PENS, and Lumix models), support has been added for several recently announced cameras, including the Nikon D4 and Canon EOS 1DX. Hasselblad users can also take advantage of Lightroom's improved workflow over Phocus (as good as it is) with full compatibility with Hasselblad's native .FFF files.

To buy, or upgrade, direct from the Adobe store, please click here (with free delivery on boxed product)

Lightroom 4 has a number of lens correction profiles built-in for Hasselblad - it's extensive but there are no profiles for the earlier V-series (Zeiss) lenses, though that may come.

Moire and false colour correction of a .FFF file from a Hasselblad H4D 60 is particularly easy in Lightroom 4 (bodes well for the Nikon D800E).

Press Release

Innovative Shadow and Highlight Recovery and Enhanced Digital Photography Workflows Mark A Milestone Release

SAN JOSE, Calif. — March 6, 2012 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the availability of Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® 4 software for Mac OS and Windows. Lightroom is the essential digital photography workflow solution helping amateur and professional photographers quickly import, manage, enhance and showcase their images. First released as a public beta in January 2012, the final version of Lightroom 4 is now available for US$149 for the full version and US$79 for the upgrade, providing an incredible value for photographers. Lightroom 4 introduces refined technology for superior shadow and highlight processing, ability to create photo books, additional local adjustment controls, and enhanced video support.

“Feedback from our customers is invaluable in developing Lightroom and the real trick to a great release is to combine these insights with Adobe’s unrivalled image processing innovation,” said Winston Hendrickson, vice president products, Creative Media Solutions, Adobe. “Lightroom 4 is a stunning new release that will enhance photography workflows and help photographs stand out from the crowd.”

New Features in Lightroom 4
Lightroom 4 is a major release, adding significant new capabilities and innovations. New adjustment controls maximize dynamic range from cameras, recovering exceptional shadow details and highlights. The software features new and improved auto adjustments to dynamically set values for exposure and contrast, and additional local adjustment controls including Noise Reduction, Moire and White Balance.

Lightroom 4 provides photographers the tools to create beautiful photo books with text controls and a variety of easy-to-use templates, as well as a direct link for photo book creation from within the new Book module. A new intuitive Map module displays images already assigned a location, provides location tagging and reverse geo-tagging controls and saved locations for easy assignment of a photographer’s common locations.

Now, native video support gives photographers the capability to play, trim and extract frames from video clips shot on DSLRs, point-and-shoot cameras and smartphones. Video-specific presets and many standard Lightroom image adjustment controls can be applied to video clips, and adjusted videos can be exported as a H.264 file or published directly to Facebook or Flickr*.

In the Develop module, presets fully utilize new processing technology and the addition of soft proofing helps photographers tune images in a destination color space to ensure content looks its best. In addition, customers can now email images directly from Lightroom using an email account of their choice.

Pricing and Availability
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 is now available for Mac and Windows at www.adobe.com/store. The estimated street price is US$149 for new users or US$79 for upgrades. For more detailed information about product features, upgrade policies, pricing and language versions, please visit www.adobe.com/go/lightroom.

Users can also connect with the Lightroom team directly on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lightroom), via Twitter (www.twitter.com/lightroom) or on the Adobe Lightroom blog (http://blogs.adobe.com/lightroomjournal). For Lightroom how-to videos, visit http://www.youtube.com/lightroom.

Canon EOS 5D Mk II refurbished available

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:43:00 +0000

With the furore expressed by some over the EOS 5D Mk III and the recent drop in price of the MK II, I thought I would take a look at the price of the refurbished bodies available direct from Canon USA. Sure enough the price there has dropped $239. You can pick yours up for just $1,759.20.

Buying refurbished can be a good way to save money on lenses too. How about a refurbished 50mm f/1.2L for $1,295.20 or a 85mm f/1.2L II for $1,759.20? Every item has a 90-day limited warranty, plenty enough time to check for optical or mechanical defects.

New lenses are available at competitive prices. The EF8-15mm f4L, for instance, is available for $1,399.00, There are savings to be had with other pro-level optics as well and you can pick up the usually 'out of stock' items, such as the outstanding EF 200mm f/2L IS listed at $5,999.00, and it's no dearer than Adorama.

For other instant savings, Canon USA has weekly deals, please click here for further details.

Please note, sales through links may benefit this site.

US dealers officially lower price on Canon EOS 5D Mk II

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:10:00 +0000

US dealer, Adorama, has decreased the price of the Canon EOS 5D Mk II. Please follow the links to buy (I'm not sure how long this will last);

Canon EOS 5D Mk II body $2,199.00 (plus $500/$400 rebate when bought with Canon Pixma Pro 9500/Pro9000 Mk II respectively)

Canon EOS 5D Mk II with EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS £2,999.00 (with same rebate available as above).

Please use this link for Amazon US.

Thank you for buying through this site's links.

Canon EOS 5D Mk III arriving March 22

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 19:00:00 +0000

UK dealer, Jessops, is saying their first shipment of the new Canon EOS 5D Mk III will be arriving on the 22nd March, 2012, or at least the bodies will be. The kit (with the 24-105mm f/4L IS lens) is said to be arriving in June.

Please click here to pre-order.

Thank you for buying through this site's links.

Canon announces the Canon EOS 5D Mk III
Canon announces Speedlite 600EX-RT, ST-E3-RT, WFT-E7 Transmitters

Pre-order the Canon EOS 5D MK III and accessories

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 13:57:00 +0000

With demand likely to outstrip supply, at least in the short term, the only way to secure the new Canon EOS 5D MK III and accessories is to pre-order. This you can do at the following affiliated dealers (it won't cost you more and may benefit this site):

Note, if you're in the UK, Canon will be displaying the new camera and accessories this weekend at the Focus On Imaging show, at the NEC, Birmingham.

US dealers:

Adorama
Amazon
B&H Photo

UK Dealers:

Jessops
Wex (Warehouse Express)

Thank you for buying through this site's links

Canon announces Speedlite 600EX-RT, ST-E3-RT, WFT-E7 Transmitters
Canon announces the Canon EOS 5D Mk III

Wex start pre-orders on Canon EOS 5D Mk III and accessories

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:37:00 +0000

UK retailer Wex (formerly Warehouse Express), are taking pre-orders online for the new Canon EOS 5D Mk III and accessories. Please follow the link here to buy.

Thank you for buying through this site's links.

Canon announces Speedlite 600EX-RT, ST-E3-RT, WFT-E7 Transmitters
Canon announces the Canon EOS 5D Mk III

Canon announces Speedlite 600EX-RT, ST-E3-RT, WFT-E7 Transmitters

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 07:51:00 +0000

Along with the new EOS 5D Mk III, Canon has introduced two new top-of-the-range Speedlites, the 600EX and radio-controlled 600EX-RT, corresponding Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT, GPS receiver GP-E2 (compatible with the EOS 1DX, 7D and 5D Mk III only it appears). The SpeedLite 600EX-RT will be available from end of March 2012, priced at £679.99 / Euros 809.99 RRP incl. VAT. The non-radio version, the SpeedLite 600EX, and SpeedLite Transmitter ST-E3-RT will also be available in March and priced at £639.99/ Euros 761.99 RRP incl. VAT and £309.99/ Euros 369.99 RRP incl. VAT, respectively. The GPS Receiver GP-E2 will be available from the end of April 2012, priced at £299.99/Euros 356.99 RRP incl. VAT. Two dedicated accessories, the battery grip BG-E11 and wireless file transmitter WFT-E7 have also been announced. Both will be available from the end of April at £329.99/Euros 389.99 RRP and £789.99/Euros 939.99 RRP, respectively. Both prices include VAT.

To pre-order the Canon EOS 5D Mk III, please follow the links for Adorama, B&H Photo, Jessops (UK)

Amazon and Warehouse Express (UK) are showing the camera and various accessories, though not all are available to pre-order.

Thank you for buying through this site's links.

Press release:

Shoot with freedom – Canon unveils new range of professional accessories

United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, 2nd March 2012 – Canon today extends its range of acclaimed accessories, unveiling a number of new models designed to offer enhanced flexibility and new creative control to its professional and mid-range EOS Digital SLRs.

Sitting at the top of Canon’s range, the Speedlite 600EX-RT is Canon’s first flash unit to feature inbuilt wireless radio connectivity and replaces the advanced Speedlite 580EX II. Partnering with the new Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT, this new model offers enhanced opportunities for photographers wishing to explore creative lighting techniques. In addition, Canon is also launching the BG-E11 battery grip, Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E7 and GPS Receiver GP-E2, which complement the newly-announced EOS 5D Mark III – offering increased versatility across a range of shooting situations – from studio portraits to field-based shoots – with a compact lightweight and affordable configuration.

Speedlite 600EX-RT – Taking creative flash further
The Speedlite 600EX-RT is a high-performance TTL flash unit designed to meet the expanding creative needs of modern professionals. Integrated radio frequency triggering, in addition to standard infra-red wireless flash control, allows photographers to achieve exciting results with complex on-and-off-camera lighting set-ups. Using one master 600EX-RT or the new ST-E3-RT radio-frequency wireless Speedlite transmitter, up to 15x 600EX-RT flash units, positioned up to 30m away, can be remotely triggered – offering great potential to experiment with more creative lighting techniques and effects. EOS cameras with a connected Speedlite 600EX-RT can also be triggered remotely by either model, allowing photographers to explore more extreme shooting angles to produce surprising and inspiring creative results.

Subjects over a wide range of distances can be lit creatively or evenly exposed, thanks to an increased guide number of 60m (ISO 100 at 200mm setting ) and wide lens coverage of 20 – 200m. For wide-angle shots, a diffuser adapter can also reduce the focal length to 14mm and the bounce-and-swivel flash head creates more flattering, shadowless effects. Ideal for shooting portraits, a catch-light panel produces natural catch-lights in the eyes of a subject when shooting with bounce flash. Additionally, custom flash coverage options provide more creative scope by using guide number priority to light the subject, while creating slightly darker edges to the frame.

Like its predecessor, the Speedlite 600EX-RT communicates white balance settings to the camera through the hot shoe connection. However, to further balance flash and ambient light, a new colour filter adapter and two supplied colour gels can be fitted to balance the temperature of the flash and create a more natural effect when shooting around tungsten or mercury lighting. When shooting in dark conditions, photographers can also employ the AF-assist beam for accurate autofocus with lenses of 28mm or longer, ensuring the subject remains in focus when the flash fires.

Designed for professionals, the Speedlite 600EX-RT and Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT feature a robust, weatherproof design matching that of the EOS-1D X, with a clear LCD display making it easy to select settings and switch between normal flash mode and wireless modes. Powered by four AA/LR6 batteries for added convenience, the Speedlite 600EX-RT offers fast, silent recycle times, allowing photographers to keep shooting and exploring creative lighting effects in all conditions.

Speedlite 600EX-RT Key features
Guide number 60 (m, ISO 100, at 200mm)
Radio triggering with 30m range
Use up to 15 units together
Infra-red wireless functionality
Remote camera triggering
Bounce-and-swivel head with zoom control
White-balance correction filters
Fast, quiet recycling

The SpeedLite 600EX-RT is available from end of March 2012, priced at £679.99 / 809.99 Euros RRP incl. VAT.

The SpeedLite 600EX is available from the end of March 2012, priced at £639.99/ 761.99 Euros RRP incl. VAT.

Pre-order the Speedlite 600EX-RT from B&H Photo ($629.00).

WFT-E7 – High-speed wireless control
The WFT-E7 is a new wireless file transmitter for a wide range of EOS models. For those who need to transfer their images quickly and easily, for example, photojournalists or sports photographers, the new WFT-E7 provides enhanced versatility through high-speed Wi-Fi and support for wired connectivity over Gigabit Ethernet. Featuring 802.11a/b/g/n support for file transfer speeds of up to 150mbps, and Bluetooth for linking to external GPS units, the WFT-E7 offers super-fast image transfer direct to an FTP server or even to a DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance ) -enabled HDTV.

When creative shoots or harsh conditions require the photographer to control the camera from a distance, the WFT Server function of the WFT-E7 allows the camera settings and the scene framed in the viewfinder to be accessed and controlled through a web page on any internet-enabled device, such as smartphones, tablets or laptops. Camera settings can also be changed remotely via EOS Utility, allowing photographers to control and trigger the camera over a wired or wireless LAN connection.

The WFT-E7 has a lightweight design and can be attached to the bottom of the camera, to the new bracket AB-E1 or even to the strap. For added versatility, it also supports Linked shooting with up to ten other cameras, with Wireless Time syncing ensuring that the time across all slave devices is aligned with the master camera in order to maintain consistency across multiple units. During Linked shooting, the WFT server function can also be activated to allow easy remote access to the master and slave cameras for even greater creative control of lighting effects during multi-camera shoots.

Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E7 Key features
Supports IEEE 802.11n
Built in Bluetooth
Versatile design
Easy Wi-Fi protected Setup
FTP server transfer
Remote control functions
DLNA media server compatible
Linked shooting

The Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E7B is available from the end of April 2012, priced at £789.99/ 939.99 Euros RRP incl. VAT.

GP-E2 – Geo-tag your images with compact, lightweight GPS
Also launching today is the GPS receiver GP-E2 – a new compact, lightweight, high-performance hot shoe GPS unit which makes it easy for photographers to geo-tag their images. Compatible with the EOS-1D X, EOS 7D (Via firmware update – connection via cable only) and new EOS 5D Mark III, the GP-E2 tags photos with longitude, latitude and altitude data as well as the direction in which the shot was taken, adding information to the EXIF file of the image.

A GPS Logger function also allows photographers to track their route by downloading GPS data at regular intervals, whether the unit is attached to the camera body or stored in its case. Once back in the studio, photographers can tag their images with the GPS data stored in the log files and their route can be displayed using Google Maps or the bundled Map Utility software.

For improved accuracy and precision when recording the time of image capture, photographers can also synchronise the clocks of their cameras with the global atomic clock via UTC information downloaded from the satellite. This is particularly useful for professional photographers shooting with multiple EOS 5D Mark III bodies, who may wish to process all the images together and sort them according to the time each was recorded.

GPS Receiver GP-E2 Key features
Hotshoe-mounted GPS unit for compatible EOS cameras.
Embeds location and altitude data into each file’s metadata.
Digital compass records heading information.
Data logging mode.
Portable design, powered by 1xAA battery.
Accurately set camera’s time using UTC time.

The GPS Receiver GP-E2 is available from the end of April 2012, priced at £299.99/ 356.99 Euros RRP incl. VAT.

Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT Key features
Radio frequency remote flash trigger.
Fire selected Speedlites from 30m away.
Controls up to 15 flashguns.
Remote camera triggering.
Weather sealed against dust and moisture.

The SpeedLite Transmitter ST-E3-RT is available from the end of March 2012, priced at £309.99/ 369.99 Euros RRP incl. VAT.

BG-E11 – Improved handling for the EOS 5D Mark III
For photographers who want to shoot for longer with the EOS 5D Mark III, the new ergonomic battery grip BG-E11, doubles the battery life with two additional LP-E6 batteries, with the added flexibility of using AA batteries as an emergency back-up. For those who frequently shoot vertically, such as sports or portrait photographers, duplicate AF start, Focus point and AE-lock controls in addition to a second Multi Controller and Control Dial make shooting vertically more comfortable and intuitive. In keeping with the premium design of the EOS 5D Mark III, the BG-E11 is made of durable magnesium alloy and offers the same high standard of weather-proofing – ideal for harsher shooting environments.

Battery Grip BG-E11 Key features
Improved handling for EOS 5D Mark III
Duplicate controls for vertical shooting.
Larger grip for bigger hands.
Use two LP-E6 batteries, or four AA/LR6 cells as an alternative.

The Battery Grip BG-E11 is available from the end of April 2012, priced at £329.99/ 389.99 Euros RRP incl. VAT.

Please help support the DJP by visiting our affiliates; Jessops, Warehouse Express, Adorama Camera and Amazon. Note; sales through these links may benefit this site.

Canon announces the Canon EOS 5D Mk III

Jessops start pre-orders on Canon EOS 5D Mk III

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 07:20:00 +0000

Jessops has started taking pre-orders on the new Canon EOS 5 D Mk III (£2,999.95 inc VAT), with free home delivery in the UK, please follow the link here. No deposit is required and you will not be charged until stock arrives.

Jessops is now showing the Canon EOS Mk III c/w 24-105mm (£3,689.95)

Readers in the USA can also pre-order, please follow the links for Adorama, B&H Photo.

Pre-order the Speedlite 600EX-RT from B&H Photo ($629.00).

Thank you for buying through this site's links.

Canon announces the Canon EOS 5D Mk III

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 06:39:00 +0000

Canon has today officially announced the successor to the EOS 5D Mk II, the new Mk III model (rumored initially to be called the EOS 5D X), boasts a 22.3MP full-frame CMOS sensor with a Digic 5 processor and sensitivity running from ISO100-25,600 (expandable to ISO 50-102,400). The EOS 5D Mk III also has a 3.2-inch (1.04M dot) rear LCD, 61-point AF system and a maximum continuous stills shooting rate of 6 fps. Like its predecessor, the new camera has extensive video capabilities recording Full HD (1080p) video in 30/25/24 fps for up to 29-minutes using optional H.264, MPEG-4, AVI and MOV formats. The new camera is also the first EOS DSLR to feature a headphone socket for audio monitoring (a feature that's not available on the EOS 1DX). Canon says the camera has both improved shutter durability (tested to 150,000 cycles) and weather-sealing over the Mk II. Launched alongside is a new BG-E11 battery grip, and top-of-the-range 600EX and EX-RT (radio controlled) Speedlites. The Canon EOS 5D Mk III will be available end of March at a body only at £2,999.99 / $3,499.99/ 3569.99 Euros.

To pre-order, please follow the links for Adorama, B&H Photo, Amazon, Warehouse Express (UK), Jessops (UK). Jessops is now showing the Canon EOS Mk III c/w 24-105mm at £3,689.95.

Pre-order the Speedlite 600EX-RT from B&H Photo ($629.00).

For more information please see the press release below.

Press release:

Creativity, redefined – Canon unleashes the EOS 5D Mark III

United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, 2nd March 2012 – Canon today announces the latest addition to its world-famous EOS range with the launch of the new EOS 5D Mark III. The EOS 5D Mark III builds on the performance of the legendar EOS 5D Mark II, offering improved speed, greater resolution, enhanced processing power and extended creative options for both stills and Full HD movies – providing unparalleled artistic freedom for the most demanding photographers.

Incorporating feedback from photographers worldwide, the EOS 5D Mark III offers improved performance in virtually every area. A new 22.3 Megapixel (MP) full-frame sensor offers the ideal balance of resolution for stills and HD movies and up to 6 frames per second (fps) shooting, whilst a 61-point AF system and 63-zone metering provide greater speed, flexibility and accuracy. Powered by the latest DIGIC 5+ processing technology, the EOS 5D Mark III also features enhanced video functions, offering improved image quality alongside greater audio control – redefining creative possibilities for photographers and amateur videographers alike.

“The EOS 5D Mark III represents a big step forward for the EOS 5D series” said Kieran Magee, Marketing Director, Professional Imaging, Canon Europe. “The EOS 5D Mark II is an exceptional camera and we’ve listened carefully to feedback from its passionate community of users to improve performance in every area. This camera has been designed to meet virtually any creative challenge – it’s faster, more responsive and features the tools to adapt to everything from studio photography to creative videography, while producing results of the highest quality.”

Enhanced performance
With its comprehensively upgraded specification, the EOS 5D Mark III is the ideal tool for the growing number of photographers shooting both stills and movies. It incorporates a number of the features launched with Canon’s revolutionary EOS-1D X, providing vastly improved performance, flexibility, handling and durability.

The camera’s newly-developed 22.3MP full-frame sensor provides increased resolution and finer detail, enabling the capture of a wide range of scenes, from sweeping landscapes to beautiful portraits. Higher speed continuous shooting also offers expanded creative possibilities. With an increased 8-channel read out, the camera comfortably handles a maximum full resolution speed of up to 6fps in bursts of 18 RAW images or over 16,000 JPEGs (When used with UDMA 7 certified cards ), without the need for additional accessories. Additionally, the sensor’s advanced architecture offers a huge native ISO range of 100-25,600, expandable to 102,400, making it possible to capture clean, high quality pictures, even in extreme low-light conditions.

The EOS 5D Mark III utilises the same 61-point wide-area AF system as the flagship EOS-1D X, providing exceptional sensitivity, precision and speed. One of the most advanced AF systems currently available, it features an impressive 41 cross-type points and five dual cross-type points, providing unsurpassed accuracy across the frame. The customisable AF pre-sets introduced in the EOS-1D X are also available, helping the capture of traditionally challenging subjects, and providing additional reliability in situations where subject movement can be unpredictable.

Highly accurate exposures are provided by Canon’s acclaimed iFCL metering system, which incorporates a 63-zone Dual-Layer sensor linked to each point of the AF system. Focus information gathered from the AF system is analysed alongside colour and luminance signals measured by the metering sensor itself, enabling the EOS 5D Mark III to deliver consistently accurate skin tones and excellent results in a wide range of shooting situations.

Creative performance without compromise
The EOS 5D Mark III features Canon’s latest DIGIC 5+ image processor, which powers a range of new functions without affecting the camera’s performance. 14-bit A/D conversion provides smoother tonal gradation and transitions between colours, while in-camera HDR shooting combines three different exposures and allows one of five preset tone maps to be applied, enabling photographers to capture all the detail in high contrast scenes. With in-camera RAW processing and editing capability, photographers also have the option to immediately begin post-processing their images while still on a shoot.

The increased power of DIGIC 5+ also enables a range of tools which contribute to higher image quality. Lens peripheral illumination correction, Lens chromatic aberration correction (lateral and axial) and high ISO noise reduction are all performed in-camera without affecting performance, allowing photographers to continue shooting without any camera lag. Additionally, in-camera image rating via a dedicated button makes it easy for photographers to organise images ahead of post-production.

The EOS 5D Mark III features a new Creative Photo button, which enables users to quickly select Picture Styles and capture multiple exposures, as well as offering direct access to the HDR shooting mode. In playback, pressing the Creative Photo button displays a new comparative playback function, displaying two images side-by-side to allow photographers to view, magnify and compare the quality of different exposures mid-shoot.

For situations where photographers want to avoid being noticed, such as weddings, the EOS 5D Mark III also features a new silent shooting mode that dramatically reduces the sound of the shutter and mirror, ensuring they can work quietly in the background. A continuous silent mode is also available, enabling photographers to capture faster-moving subjects without attracting attention.

Next generation EOS Movies
The EOS 5D Mark III builds on the reputation of the EOS 5D Mark II, with a range of new features introduced following feedback received from photographers to provide even better Full HD video performance. As well as offering the depth-of-field control loved by video professionals, the new full-frame sensor combines with the vast processing power of DIGIC 5+ to improve image quality by virtually eradicating the presence of moiré, false colour and other artefacts. The addition of a movie mode switch and a recording button also offers greater usability, enabling videographers to begin shooting immediately when movie mode is engaged.

Additional movie functions include manual exposure control and an enhanced range of high bit-rate video compression options, with intraframe (ALL-I) and interframe (IPB) methods both supported. Variable frame rates range from 24fps to 60fps, and the addition of SMPTE timecode support provides greater editing flexibility and easier integration into multi-camera shoots. Users can also check and adjust audio during recording via the camera’s Quick Control screen and a headphone socket enables sound level monitoring both during and after shooting. Enhanced processing power provided by DIGIC 5+ also makes it possible to conveniently trim the length of recorded movies in-camera.

Professional build, easy operation
The EOS 5D Mark III has been built to offer photographers easy-handling and robust build quality. Its lightweight, high-grade magnesium body offers advanced weather proofing for protection against the elements, while the construction of the shutter has also been reinforced, with 150,000-cycle durability making it ideal for repeated, everyday use. An enhanced version of the Intelligent Viewfinder featured in the EOS 7D offers approximately 100% coverage, as well as an on-demand grid display via the built-in transparent LCD.

The same reinforced 8.11cm (3.2”) Clear View II LCD screen as used by the EOS-1D X provides high quality framing and playback in all conditions. 1,040k-pixels provide the resolution to accurately check image sharpness and focus, while the gapless structure design introduced with the EOS-1D Mark IV prevents reflections and protects against dust or scratches. A headphone socket and locking mode dial have been included, while the inclusion of a UDMA 7-compatible CF card slot plus an SD card Compatible with SD, SDHC, SDXC cards and Eye-Fi connected functions ) slot enables shooting to both cards simultaneously, auto switching when the one in use becomes full and the option to copy images from one card to the other in-camera.

Digital Lens Optimizer – new in Digital Photo Professional v3.11
The EOS 5D Mark III comes complete with the most advanced version of Digital Photo Professional (DPP) yet – Canon’s free, in-box software enabling high-speed, high quality processing of RAW images. New in DPP v3.11 is Digital Lens Optimizer – a revolutionary new tool designed to drastically improve image resolution.

Digital Lens Optimizer (DLO) precisely imitates lens performance, with a series of complex mathematical functions replicating each stage of the journey of light through the optical path. Using this information DLO can correct a range of typical optical aberrations and loss of resolution caused by a camera’s low pass filter, by applying an inverse function to each shot to take the image nearer to how the scene appears to the naked eye. This creates exceptionally detailed, high-quality images with highly manageable file sizes, providing photographers with maximum image quality and greater flexibility.

EOS System compatibility
As part of the EOS System, the EOS 5D Mark III is immediately compatible with over 60 EF Lenses, including the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM – the new, essential wide-angle zoom lens from Canon’s famous L-series. The camera is also compatible with a newly-announced range of accessories designed to offer extended creativity, including the Speedlite 600EX-RT – a high performance TTL flash with wireless radio connectivity. Additionally, the new Battery Grip BG-E11 offers greater handling flexibility alongside the ability to double the camera’s battery life.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III – Key features:
22.3 Megapixel full-frame sensor
61-point autofocus
Up to 6fps continuous shooting
Native ISO 100-25,600 sensitivity
Full HD video with manual control
14-bit DIGIC 5+ processor
Enhanced Weather sealing
8.11cm (3.2-inch) 1,040,000-dot screen
HDR mode with presets

Pricing and Availability:
The EOS 5D Mark III will be available from end of March 2012, priced at £2999.99 / 3569.99 Euros RRP including VAT.

EOS 5D Mark III first look
The EOS 5D Mark III will be available to touch and try on the Canon stand at the Focus on Imaging Show 2012 4th March to 7th March 2012, NEC Birmingham.

A headphone socket (pictured above the USB port) is included for audio (levels) monitoring, and is the first EOS DSLR from the maker to include the feature.

For more information, please visit www.usa.canon.com, or www.canon.co.uk.

Please help support the DJP by visiting our affiliates; Jessops, Warehouse Express, Adorama Camera and Amazon. Note; sales through these links may benefit this site.

Canon UK announces availability of 500mm, 600mm f/4 super-teles
Canon Japan openly discuss EOS-1D X design choices
Canon unwraps EOS 1Dx

Lensbaby introduces Macro Converters

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 22:16:00 +0000

Press release

Lensbaby Macro Converters

Give Lensbaby users limitless Close-Focus Options

Lensbaby announces Lensbaby Macro Converters, which can be used with any Lensbaby Optic and lens body for creative macro photography. The Macro Converters are designed to enable photographers using the Lensbaby Optic Swap System™ to take extremely close-up, dreamy and artistic photos while selectively blurring out distracting elements.

“The Macro Converters work with every Lens Body and Optic we make,” said Craig Strong, Lensbaby President and Co-Founder. “These Macro Converters offer great close-up range, and when mixed and matched with our existing Macro Kit, provide multiple options for creative Lensbaby macro photography. In combination with the Lensbaby Optic Swap system, Macro Converters provide photographers with a fun and compelling macro experience.”

The Macro Converters are available as a set containing one 8mm converter and one 16mm converter, which can also be stacked together to make a 24mm converter. The existing Lensbaby Macro Kit (which features a +4 and +10 macro filter) can also be used in conjunction with the Macro Converters with the Double Glass, Single Glass, Plastic and Soft Focus Optics for an even closer capture.

Product Specs:

One 8mm converter
One 16mm converter
Stacked together they become a 24mm converter
Compatible with all Lensbaby lens bodies and optics
Focus range – please see chart below
Focus range is slightly closer when optics are used with other Lensbaby lens bodies including
Muse and Control Freak.

Lensbaby Macro Converters carry a suggested retail price of £47.99.

For further details please contact Intro2020 on 01628 674411 or visit our web site at www.intro2020.co.uk

Please help support the DJP by visiting our affiliates; Jessops, Warehouse Express, Adorama Camera and Amazon. Note; sales through these links may benefit this site.

Lensbaby announces Edge 80 Optic

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 22:08:00 +0000

Press release

Lensbaby introduces the Edge 80 Optic

Edge 80 gives photographers extraordinary creative control over depth of field

Lensbaby announces the availability of its 80mm Edge 80 Optic, the newest addition to its Optic Swap System. This new optic is compatible with the Lensbaby Composer Pro, Composer, Muse, Scout and Control Freak, and will transform any of these bending lens bodies into a tilt lens that delivers a selective slice of sharp focus through an image. Like the Lensbaby Sweet 35 Optic, the Edge 80 features Lensbaby’s internal 12-blade adjustable aperture.

“The Edge 80 Optic allows photographers to create images with quality that is on-par with some of the best lenses I’ve ever used. Like a great lens mounted on a view camera bellows, you can make spectacular ‘straight’ photos with the Edge 80 pointed straight ahead and then, when you want a different look altogether, fluidly tilt the lens to create a razor sharp slice of selective focus through your image,” said Craig Strong, Lensbaby President and Co-Founder.

The Edge 80 provides a flat field of focus that, pointed straight ahead, takes photos that are sharp from edge to edge. Tilting the Edge 80 allows photographers to create vertical, horizontal and diagonal slices of focus through the image. Objects in both the foreground and the background can be in focus within that slice. Photographers can control the size of the slice of focus by changing the 12-blade aperture. For example, f/2.8 will produce a thin slice of focus with abundant blur. F/22 will produce a very wide slice of focus with just a small amount of blur. The Edge 80 allows photographers to quickly and seamlessly change the 12-blade aperture from f/2.8 through f/22, simply by rotating the dial on the front of the optic. An incredibly versatile portrait lens, Edge 80 can also be used to great effect in any situation that lends itself to selective focus – from food photography to giving landscapes a “miniature” appearance.

With the addition of Edge 80 to the Optic Swap System, Lensbaby provides photographers with yet another way to creatively control depth of field. A photographer needs only to buy one Lensbaby lens to gain access to a system offering 8 interchangeable optics that each give different ways to control depth of field and other creative effects – an unprecedented system within the world of photography.

With the Edge 80, photographers can control a flat field of focus that becomes a slice of sharpness through the photo when the lens is tilted. With Lensbaby’s Sweet 35, Double Glass, Single Glass, and Plastic Optics, photographers can control a curved field of focus that brings one area of the photo into sharp focus with other areas at the same depth of field falling off into blur. The Pinhole/Zone plate provides infinite depth of field, the Soft Focus optic delivers a sharp image with a soft overlay from edge to edge, while the Fisheye Optic provides a 160 degree angle of view on the world.

Edge 80 Optic Product Specs:
•    Focal Length: 80mm
•    12-blade internal aperture, controlled by a dial on the front of the optic
•    Aperture range from f/2.8 through f/22
•    Flat field of focus optic (when tilted, creates a slice of sharp focus, bordered by blur)
•    Compatible with Lensbaby Composer Pro, Composer, Muse, Scout and Control Freak lens bodies*
•    Minimum focusing distance: approximately 17” when the optic is extended forward in close focus mode and fully tilted
•    Maximum focusing distance: Infinity
•    5 multi-coated glass elements, in four groups
•    46mm front threads**

* The Edge 80 Optic is not compatible with the Composer with Tilt Transformer for Micro 4/3rds and Sony NEX Cameras.
** The Edge 80 Optic is not compatible with current 37mm Lensbaby accessories.

The Lensbaby Edge 80 Optic carries a suggested retail price of £299.99.

For further details please contact Intro2020 on 01628 674411 or visit our web site at www.intro2020.co.uk

Please help support the DJP by visiting our affiliates; Jessops, Warehouse Express, Adorama Camera and Amazon. Note; sales through these links may benefit this site.

Canon G1 X in stock at dealers

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:17:00 +0000

UK retailer and affiliate, Warehouse Express, has the new Canon PowerShot G1 X in stock at £699.00 inc VAT. Please follow the link here to buy.

US readers can buy through our affiliate Adorama Camera. They have stock currently at $799.00 (USD)

Thank you for buying through this site's links.

Bowens set to announce new Lumiair softbox range

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:43:00 +0000

Bowens will launch a groundbreaking new softbox range with prices starting from £150 incl. VAT) at the Focus on Imaging show, this weekend. For more information, please see the press release below.

Press release:

Bowens’Lumiair softbox range set to create a new lighting benchmark

Bowens is set to unveil Lumiair, a nine model-strong, groundbreaking range of softboxes, at Focus on Imaging.

Announcing the new range, marketing director Robert Cook said: “Lumiair is a byword for absolute precision engineering. It marks the culmination of years of softbox design and development and sets new benchmarks in our industry.”

He added: “Up to now many photographers have been forced to accept a trade-off situation between cost and quality. The marketplace is flooded with ‘cheap, easy to assemble’ softbox products that comprise nothing more than fragile reflective material wrapped loosely around the holding rods – and the resultant light is, more often than not, substandard.

Our approach with Lumiair has been to carefully control the colour temperature of the reflected light and ensure that the material we use in our diffusers does not fluoresce under UV light. And importantly, it is the integral tension in Lumiair rods that creates the straightest edges possible for absolute control over light direction and shadow cut-off.”

Bowens says the new, easily portable range targets users across all photo-disciplines and has been created to deliver ‘the highest quality and most efficient light possible at a highly competitive price’. The Lumiair range starts at just £150 (incl VAT) and is available now.

The company has teamed with Lighttools, the Canada-based manufacturer of the original, Soft Egg Crate (interlocking cloth strips) light control system, to offer a bespoke range of fabric egg crates for the new Bowens softboxes.Added Cook: “Our working partnership with Lighttools in this project means we have simply created the finest range of quality light control softboxes available anywhere in the world today.

Additionally, we have developed a range of softbox adapter rings which will allow Lumiair softboxes to be fitted to many other types of flash system.”

For more infomation please visit www.bowens.co.uk.

Sales

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Hasselblad to offer Raw file compatibility with Adobe Lightroom

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:11:00 +0000

UPDATED: Hasselblad has been working with Adobe to offer RAW file compatibility with Lightroom (and one must assume ACR). Beginning 12th March you can buy a new Hasselblad H4D, the company says, and receive Lightroom for free. Hasselblad will continue to offer the proprietary Phocus Raw file converter, software updates will be offered for the foreseeable future.

Press release:

Hasselblad and Adobe announce an agreement to make medium format photography easier and more accessible to the world’s photographers.

Hasselblad today announced an agreement with Adobe Systems Incorporated that, beginning on the 12th March 2012, all newly purchased medium format Hasselblad H4D cameras will include a fully functional copy of Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® software at no extra charge. Under this agreement, Hasselblad is creating new opportunities for all lovers of medium format photography as well as for aspirational 35mm professionals, advanced amateurs and enthusiasts to perfect, search, process and organize their images in a single solution regardless of their experience or skill level.

Chris Russell-Fish, Hasselblad Global Sales and Marketing Director said: "Integrating the Adobe platform with Hasselblad is a ground-breaking step. Changing platforms is always a challenge for time-starved photographers and digital operators but now all users can have the excellence of a Hasselblad image file married to the functionality and ease of use of Adobe Lightroom."

Hasselblad customers who buy new medium format H4D cameras will receive Lightroom software with their new camera equipment at no additional cost.

Adobe spokesperson Tom Hogarty, principal product manager for Lightroom said: "We are excited that photographers who purchase a new Hasselblad H4D camera will now easily be able to combine it with the power of Lightroom software. The world of imaging continues to evolve quickly, so it is increasingly important to offer customers innovative and practical software options to refine, showcase and manage their images."

The Hasselblad and Lightroom plan does not mean that Hasselblad's Phocus software is being phased out.

Said Russell-Fish: "We will continue to support our proprietary Phocus software. This new agreement is about providing choice for our customers. Lightroom has the advantage of familiarity with photographers, digital operators and enthusiasts worldwide. Phocus still offers high-end imagists some highly specialised tools and remains an integral element of our Multi-Shot cameras as well as our Phocus Mobile application, which enables wireless connectivity for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. We are also working on solutions to tethering and batch processing challenges, and integration of those solutions is not far off."

Hasselblad will run a worldwide programme of workshops and studio days based on medium format capture and Lightroom software.

Adobe, Lightroom, and Photoshop are either registered trademark or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.

Hasselblad set to launch Hasselblad TV
Hasselblad Europe offer half-price lens deal
Hasselblad announces H4x
Hasselblad H4D-60 review

Sales

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Wacom announces Intuos5

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:42:00 +0000

Wacom has announced the immediate availability of the Intuos5 the latest graphics tablet for professional imaging pros, featuring multi-touch gesture support for intuitive input, an Express View display to facilitate an efficient workflow and wireless capabilities. The Intuos5 is available in four models: Intuos5 touch Small (£199.99), Medium (£329.99), Large (£429.99) and Intuos5 pen-only Medium (£269.99). Each Intuos5 can be extended with the Wacom Wireless Accessory Kit priced at £34.99. All prices are including VAT. For more information please see the press release below.

US readers can buy the Intuos 5 from Adorama (prices start at $229) please c lick here. Please check back for updates on UK retailers.

Thank you for buying through this site's links.

Press release:

Dive into digital content creation with Wacom’s redefined Intuos5

Multi-touch interaction, wireless connectivity and heads-up display now included for a truly immersive experience

Wacom® today announces Intuos®5, the next generation lineup of tablets for professional photographers, designers and artists who wish to take their digital content creation to the next level. Superior new features include multi-touch gesture support for intuitive input, an Express View display to facilitate an efficient workflow and wireless capabilities for convenience and comfort. Combined with Wacom’s renowned pen pressure and tilt sensitive pen, the state-of-the-art Intuos5 inspires creativity through an immersive experience. Wacom will be showcasing the Intuos5 for the first time in the UK at Focus on Imaging (stand N9) from 4 – 7 March 2012.

With its ergonomic, ambidextrous design and bold new look, the slim-profile Intuos5 allows creative professionals to work in complete comfort. The professional matte-black, soft-touch finish and illuminated accents reflect a modern and durable design. To meet the workflow and workspace needs of Wacom’s diverse professional customer base, four Intuos5 models are being introduced. Three Intuos5 touch models, featuring both pen and multi-touch in sizes small, medium and large and one pen-only Intuos5 tablet in medium.

The Human Touch

The addition of multi-touch to the Intuos5 provides a complementary input method to the pen that is natural to use in the creative process. One of the distinct benefits of multi-touch is its support of gestures to zoom, scroll, pan and rotate digital content, all while remaining focused on the creative process. Not only is the Intuos5 able to recognise standard Windows and Mac gestures, but customisable gestures can be created in supporting applications to make navigational input easier and stress free. For example, a customised gesture could be created to open a commonly used feature within Adobe® Photoshop®.

“The multi-touch interface in the Intuos5 is Wacom’s most elegant implementation of gesture support to date,” says Guido Möller, product manager professional brands of Wacom Europe. “Switching from pen to touch or to gesture based navigation is a liberating experience, allowing one to reduce repetitive motion and interact more naturally with the computer.”

Stay focused

Wacom continues to build customisable non-dominant hand controls into its professional tablets to help users streamline their workflow and be more productive. On the Intuos5, these include customisable ExpressKeys (six on small size and eight on both medium and large sizes) and one Touch Ring, with four-function toggle. These features allow users to place commonly used shortcuts and modifiers right at their fingertips, decreasing dependency on the computer keyboard while increasing productivity. The ambidextrous design allows right-handed and left-handed users to simply rotate the tablet 180 degrees for easy access to the ExpressKeys and Touch Ring.

To help users remember their application-specific ExpressKey settings without being distracted by the input device, Intuos5 comes equipped with Express View, a new Heads-Up Display (HUD) feature that displays the current settings on the computer screen. Lightly resting a finger on any of the keys reveals the settings on-screen and fades within a few seconds so as not to disrupt the creative process. “Express View modernises the user interface and is instrumental in helping improve workflow and boost productivity”, said Möller. “It allows users to remain focused on their work and concentrate on the creative process while providing all the benefits of a faster workflow.”

The Intuos5 Grip Pen

For creative professionals, the Intuos5 Grip Pen remains the heart and soul of the tablet experience. The Intuos5 pen registers 2048 levels of pen pressure and up to 60 degrees of pen tilt, allowing the pen to emulate the same feel, response and effects derived from working with traditional tools such as paint brushes, markers and pens. In addition, Intuos5 features Wacom’s proprietary Tip Sensor technology, which means that pressure-sensitive effects can start with an incredibly light touch. The Wacom pen expands the creative effects that can be achieved within software applications that support pressure and/or tilt sensitivity such as Adobe® Photoshop®, Adobe® Illustrator®, Corel® Painter™, Autodesk® Sketchbook® Pro and many more. The Grip Pen also features a pressure-sensitive eraser and two side switches that can be customised for commands such as double-click and right-click.

Optional Wireless Connectivity

With the Intuos5, Wacom broadens its offering for wireless connectivity. Now, all sizes of Intuos5 can be converted to a wireless tablet by installing the Wireless Accessory kit, sold separately on Wacom’s e-store. The kit includes a rechargeable battery that charges through USB, a RF module that plugs into the tablet and a receiver that plugs into a USB port on the computer.

Pricing and availability

The Intuos5, available today, comes in four models: Intuos5 touch Small (£199.99), Medium (£329.99), Large (£429.99) and Intuos5 pen-only Medium (£269.99). Each Intuos5 can be extended with the Wacom Wireless Accessory Kit priced at £34.99. All prices are including VAT.

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Nikon Professional interview with Alex Bailey

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 23:01:00 +0000

Nikon UK has interviewed movie stills photographer, Alex Bailey, as part of the maker's Nikon Professional Users scheme, an off-shoot of NPS (Nikon Professional Services). Please click here to read the full story.

About NPU.

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Jessops announces pre-orders on Sony NEX-7

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:47:00 +0000

UK dealer Jessops is taking pre-orders on the intriguing Sony NEX-7 at £998.95 (inc VAT) body only, or £1,128.95 with the 18-55mm. Delivery is free and the dealer says the camera will be arriving in three days time. Only the very best lenses will be able to get the most from this sensor. Unless you really need the kit lens, my recommendation would be the Sony 24mm f/1.8 Zeiss Sonnar T* - it's a world class performer optically.

Please click here to buy. Thank you for buying through this site's links.

Sony 24mm f/1.8 Zeiss Sonnar T* sample images

Panasonic announces firmware update for 45-200mm f/4.0-5.6

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:29:00 +0000

Panasonic Announces the Firmware Update Program for LUMIX G VARIO 45-200mm / F4.0-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS045200)

Panasonic announces the new firmware update program for the digital interchangeable lens LUMIX G VARIO 45-200mm / F4.0-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS045200) of LUMIX G Micro System. The firmware is released to enhance the O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) performance of the lens.

The firmware program is available at the Panasonic LUMIX Support Site: www.panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/

Nikon to showcase D800, D4 at Focus On Imaging

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 09:43:00 +0000

Press release:

A PROFESSIONAL VIEW: NIKON CONFIRMS FOCUS ON IMAGING SHOW
Stand D40, Hall 9 &10 4- 7th March 2012

London, UK, February 2012: Nikon UK is pleased to announce it will be exhibiting its full professional line up at Europe’s biggest annual imaging show, Focus on Imaging, from 4th – 7th March.

Following a spate of recent product launches, Nikon will be showcasing its exciting new products, including the new Nikon D4 and D800 professional cameras. A range of lenses will also be available to try out with the help of a team of Nikon experts who will be on hand to assist with any technical queries.

Along with the chance to check out the new products, an exciting seminar schedule has been lined up to include well-known names such as wildlife photographer Andy Rouse, national sports photographer Mark Pain and fashion photographer John Wright, who will give some insight into his experience of shooting stills and movie with a new D800 camera. Plus, Nikon has scheduled 3 seminars every day covering the details of the new products.

For full details on Nikon’s line up of guest speakers, please click here (pdf download)

Jeremy Gilbert, Nikon’s Group Marketing Manager says: “We’ve taken a slightly different approach this year and will using the show as a platform to showcase our professional equipment; we’ve just launched two very exciting professional cameras which are likely to get a lot of attention at the show.

He added: “The Focus on Imaging show is a great opportunity for visitors to get their hands on the cameras and talk to our team of experts before they buy.”

Nikon announces world's first 36MP D800, D800E DSLRs
Nikon D4 available to pre-order
Nikon announces new flagship D4

Adorama shipping Canon PowerShot G1 X

noreply@blogger.com (DJP) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:20:00 +0000

Adorama Camera has started shipping the eargerly-awaited Canon PowerShot G1 X and have stock currently at $799.00 USD (£505.00 ex VAT).

Thank you for buying through this site's links.

Canon announces PowerShot G1 X

Digital Journal of Photography

Limited edition black Fuji X100 starts shipping

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Canon announces the Canon EOS 5D Mk III

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Hasselblad to offer Raw file compatibility with Adobe Lightroom

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Nikon Professional interview with Alex Bailey

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