Apple announces redesigned Mac mini

Apple has today announced the updated Mac Mini with a new form factor, more powerful NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics and memory up to 8GB. Prices start at $699 / £649 for the base model and $999 / £929 for the Server version.

Press release:

Apple Unveils All New Mac mini

Apple Unveils All New Mac mini

CUPERTINO, California—June 15, 2010—Apple today unveiled a completely redesigned Mac mini, featuring up to twice the graphics performance, a new HDMI port, and a new SD card slot, all in an amazingly compact aluminium enclosure. Mac mini is the world’s most energy efficient desktop and starting at $699 / £649 inc VAT, is the most affordable way to enjoy Mac OS X, iLife or Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server.

“The sleek, aluminium Mac mini packs great features, versatility and value into an elegant, amazingly compact design,” said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "With twice the graphics performance, HDMI support and industry-leading energy efficiency, customers are going to love the new Mac mini.”

Created with the unibody construction process pioneered by Apple, the new Mac mini features a compact aluminium enclosure just 7.7-inches square and 1.4-inches thin. A new integrated power supply eliminates the need for an external power adapter, reducing overall system volume by 20 percent and keeping cable clutter to a minimum. A removable panel underneath provides quick access for memory expansion. Mac mini is incredibly versatile, effortlessly connecting to existing peripherals such as mice, keyboards and digital displays, while the new HDMI output connects Mac mini to an HDTV and the new SD card slot enables easy transfer of photos and videos from a digital camera.

Inside its sleek, compact enclosure, the new Mac mini includes the fastest integrated graphics processor on the market today. With 48 processing cores, the NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor delivers up to twice the graphics performance of its predecessor, making Mac mini ideal for graphics intensive applications or visually rich games. Mac mini comes standard with a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 320GB hard and 2GB of RAM for £649 inc VAT.

With twice the graphics performance, the new Mac mini is still the world’s most energy efficient desktop*. The new Mac mini reduces power consumption by an incredible 25 percent to less than 10W at idle, less than half the power required by competing systems. Mac mini meets Energy Star 5.0 requirements and achieves EPEAT Gold status**. The new aluminium enclosure is highly recyclable and Mac mini uses PVC-free internal components and cables, contains no brominated flame retardants and features material-efficient system and packaging designs.

Mac mini comes with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, the world’s most advanced operating system, and iLife, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music. Snow Leopard builds on a decade of OS X innovation and success with hundreds of refinements, new core technologies and out of the box support for Microsoft Exchange. iLife features iPhoto, to easily organise and manage photos; iMovie with powerful easy-to-use new features such as Precision Editor, video stabilisation and advanced drag and drop; and GarageBand which introduces a whole new way to help you learn to play piano and guitar.

Mac mini with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server fulfils all the server needs of a workgroup or small business including email, calendar, file serving, Time Machine backup, Wiki Server, Podcast Producer and more. Mac mini with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server uses less than 11W of power at idle, a fraction of the power consumed in comparison to typical entry-level tower servers***. Mac mini with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server is faster than before with a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, two 500GB hard drives now running at 7200 rpm, 4GB of RAM and supports unlimited clients for $999 / £929 inc VAT.

Pricing & Availability
The new Mac mini is shipping today and will be available through the Apple Store (www.apple.com/uk), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorised Resellers.

The Mac mini, for a suggested retail price of £649 inc VAT (£552.34 ex VAT) includes:
• 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB of shared L2 cache;
• 2GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable up to 8GB;
• a slot-load 8X SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
• 320GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm;
• NVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated graphics;
• AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
• Gigabit Ethernet;
• four USB 2.0 ports;
• SD card slot;
• one FireWire 800 port;
• one HDMI port and one Mini DisplayPort;
• HDMI to DVI video adapter;
• combined optical digital audio input/audio line in (minijack); and
• combined optical digital audio output/headphone out (minijack).

The Mac mini with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server, for a suggested retail price of £929 inc VAT (£790.64 ex VAT), includes:
• 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB of shared L2 cache;
• 4GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable up to 8GB;
• two 500GB Serial ATA hard drives running at 7200 rpm;
• NVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated graphics;
• AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
• Gigabit Ethernet;
• four USB 2.0 ports;
• SD card slot;
• one FireWire 800 port;
• one HDMI port and one Mini DisplayPort;
• HDMI to DVI video adapter;
• combined optical digital audio input/audio line in (minijack); and
• combined optical digital audio output/headphone out (minijack).

Build-to-order options and accessories include up to 8GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, 500GB hard drive running at 5400 rpm; Apple Remote; Aperture 3, Final Cut Express 4, Logic Express, iWork (pre-installed); Apple Wireless Keyboard; Magic Mouse; Apple 24-inch LED Cinema Display and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

*Claim based on energy efficiency categories and products listed within the EPA ENERGY STAR 5.0 database as of June 2010.

**EPEAT is an independent organisation that helps customers compare the environmental performance of notebooks and desktops. Products meeting all of the 23 required criteria and at least 75 percent of the optional criteria are recognised as EPEAT Gold products. The EPEAT program was conceived by the US EPA and is based on IEEE 1680 standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products. For more information visit www.epeat.net.

***Claim based on energy efficiency categories and products listed within the EPA ENERGY STAR Small Scale Server database as of June 2010.

Sigma confirms price and availability of SD15 DSLR

Sigma has announced the new 14-megapixel SD15 will be avialble art the begining of July and will retail for £899.99. Sigma has also taken the opportunity to announce the new 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM zoom is available now in Canon mount, with Sigma, Nikon, Sony and Pentax to follow. The suggested retail price is £649.99

Press release:

Sigma SD15

Digital SLR camera with “TRUE II” image processing engine

Sigma Imaging (UK) Ltd is pleased to announce that the suggested retail price of the new SD15 digital SLR is £899.99. This camera is the latest model in Sigma’s SD series and will be available at the beginning of July.

Powered by the 14 megapixel Foveon X3 direct image sensor it can capture all primary RGB colours at each and every pixel location arranged in three layers.

The new SD15 incorporates the “TRUE II” image processing engine which processes the large amount of data from the 14 megapixel direct image sensor. It also provides high resolution power and reproduces high definition images with impressive three-dimensional detail, rich in gradation.

The camera adopts the SD card and incorporates a highly visible 3.0 inch LCD monitor, 77-Segment AE sensor and AFE (Analogue Front End). It provides high image quality and user friendly design. In addition, the durable shutter mechanism, which has a life of over 100,000 actuations, is ideal for the demands of digital photography.

Further information on the SD15 can be found at www.SIGMA-SD.com/sd15

Seagate releases FreeAgent GoFlex drives

Seagate has released an updated range of the popular FreeAgent external hard-drives, offering interchangeable connection adaptors for USB 2 USB 3.0, eSATA and FW800. Seagate are also including an NTFS driver for Mac OS X allowing storage and access of files from both Windows and Mac computers. Capacities range from 320GB to 2TB in a range of form factors, and will be available later in the month. Prices are yet to be announced.

Press release:

SEAGATE ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF FreeAgent GoFlex EXTERNAL HARD DRIVES

IN THE UK

New era of external storage; a flexible hard drive solution with multiple interface and content sharing options

LONDON, United Kingdom — 10 June 2010 — Seagate (NASDAQ: STX), the worldwide leader in hard drives and storage solutions, today announced that the next evolution of the company’s award-winning FreeAgent® external hard drives—its new GoFlex™ storage solutions – will go on sale in the UK from the end of June. Initially the FreeAgent GoFlex will be available from Currys, Maplin, DSGi, PC World and Amazon.co.uk

This new family of external drives and accessories introduces a new level of flexibility to traditional USB 2.0 storage that will change the way people store, access, enjoy and share their digital content. The FreeAgent® GoFlex™ storage family includes easy, plug-and-play portable and desktop drives, with an array of interchangeable cables and desktop adapters that allow each drive to adapt to the interface or device being used. GoFlex hard disk drives are also specially designed to provide interoperability between operating systems in order to work with both Microsoft® Windows® and Mac® OS X computers.

“GoFlex™ interface cables are about providing the speed, performance and connectivity people need to support their interaction with their digital content. The explosive growth of video capture and multimedia collecting is expanding personal digital libraries to terabytes worth of content within the home,” said Matthew Yarrow, Executive Director, at Seagate Branded Solutions EMEA. “These trends are driving demand for high-capacity, high-performance storage. The GoFlex™ family of storage products meets this need by delivering simple, USB 2.0 storage and backup devices, with the flexibility to adapt as interface technology advances by using the various GoFlex™ cables and accessories to access content stored on the same drive.”

Protect, store and access files through the interface of your choice
Recent survey results by the Yankee Group indicate that more than half of people planning to purchase a new hard drive consider the interface connection an important factor in their selection. GoFlex drives address this concern by providing a flexible, plug-and-play way to adapt to the most popular available interfaces or devices. The seamless GoFlex™ cable system enables the GoFlex™ and GoFlex™ Pro ultra-portable USB 2.0 drives to be upgraded to USB 3.0, eSATA or FireWire 800 connections simply by switching out the cable adapter. Additionally, specially-designed GoFlex upgrade cables provide even more applications of how each drive can be used. For example, the GoFlexTM Upgrade cable – Auto Backup transforms the drive into a continuous full-system backup, giving consumers the peace of mind that their files and system settings are backed up, while leaving the remaining capacity for basic drag-and-drop file transfer.

“As consumer’s lives become increasingly connected, people will demand capabilities beyond the traditional hard drive,” said Carl Howe, director, Anywhere Consumer Research, Yankee Group. “Consumers are looking not only for storage, but for new ways to use their digital content. Connecting, sharing, and repurposing content is part of the purchasing decision process for today’s ‘Anywhere Consumer’®.”

Do More with the GoFlex Storage System
Within the GoFlex family, Seagate has created a special ecosystem wherein people experience easy backup and enhanced protection of all their data—the same way they would expect a traditional hard drive to perform—only now their interaction with that content is not wholly dependent on the drive. In addition to several cable options, people can pair a GoFlex or GoFlex Pro ultra-portable drive with a GoFlex™ TV HD media player or the GoFlex™ Net media sharing device to enhance their experience of the drive’s content.

Using the GoFlex™ TV HD media player consumers can easily enjoy their personal digital media library on their television screen by inserting a GoFlex ultra-portable drive or GoFlex Pro ultra-portable drive directly into the media dock, or connecting another storage device, digital or Flip camera to the two additional USB ports on the back of the device. Using the intuitive remote, owners of GoFlex TV HD media players can view movies, photos, and music from the comfort of their couch in 1080p high-definition and surround sound. Connect your GoFlex TV HD media player to the internet using the Ethernet or optional Wi-Fi adapter and stream digital content from a home network or popular online service providers such as Netflix, YouTube, MediaFly, Picasa and more.

The GoFlex™ Net media sharing device transforms a GoFlex ultra-portable drive, GoFlex Pro ultra-portable drive, or any USB mass storage, into a media sharing device, allowing consumers to enjoy their digital content outside their home using a PC, iPad, iPod Touch, Android, iPhone, BlackBerry or any other internet-connected computer. The GoFlex Net media sharing device also integrates with social media websites, such as Facebook and Twitter, and publishes RSS feeds allowing people to keep friends and family updated GoFlex media sharing device owners can
also stream content to other devices on a home network, including the GoFlex TV HD media player, to enjoy movies, photos and music on their TV.

Bridging the Gap between PC and Mac
For the first time, Seagate will include an NTFS driver for Mac® OS X on all GoFlex portable and desktop offerings, enabling storage and access of files from both Windows® and Mac computers. The NTFS driver is simply installed once on your Mac computer, and allows access and storage of files on a Windows-formatted[1] drive.

With capacities ranging from 320GB to 2TB, FreeAgent GoFlex ultra-portable and desktop drives group high-capacity, adaptability and ease-of-use with all the backup and protection people have come to expect from Seagate.

Honl Photo rolls out the Roll-Up

Flaghead Photographic, the UK distributor for Honl Photo, has annouunced the Filter Roll-Up - a handy wrap for the maker's range of gels for portable flashguns (strobes). The RRP is £15.99, and it's available now.

Press release:

HONL PHOTO introduce the Filter Roll-UP!

Flaghead Photographic, the exclusive UK & Ireland distributor of HONL PHOTO products have launched the Honl Photo Filter Roll-Up.

Honl Photo Filter Roll-UP
A very quick and convenient way to carry up to 30 Honl Photo Filters. The filters are well protected in transport and can be identified and accessed very quickly when needed.
Size: 5” x 20” open, 5” X 2” rolled up
Weight: 3 ounces
Materials: ballistic nylon with nylon ripstop

HP-ROLLUP Filter Photo Filter Roll-Up £15.99 (inc VAT).

Fore more information, please visit Flaghead Photographic here.

Kodak announces ESP 7250

Kodak has today announced the latest all-in-one printer to their rapidly expanding range of affordable inkjets - the ESP 7250. As well as the expected scan and print options, the new ESP7250 adds WiFi connectivity for printing directly from smartphones - the iPhone - in particular, as well as a built-in duplexer (for printing on both sides).

Press release:

Kodak’s New All-In-One Inkjet Printer Provides the Connectivity and Value

To Print and Share Your Mobile Life For Less

Easy Wi-Fi Set Up and the Latest Wi-Fi Technology Enables

Direct Printing from Smartphones1

London, UK, June 10th, 2010 — Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE: EK) invites consumers to unlock the photos and documents stored in their Smartphones1 with its new KODAK ESP 7250 All-in-One (AiO) Printer. Featuring easy-to-use wireless capabilities, an intuitive control panel and the lowest total ink replacement cost in the industry2, the new KODAK ESP 7250 helps you share and print your mobile life for less, saving consumers up to £75 a year on ink based on as few as four pages per day3.

Kodak knows that on-the-go lifestyles need easy solutions, such as the ability to print and share without turning on a computer. The ESP 7250 can print documents and photos directly from Wi-Fi enabled Smartphones1, offering the world’s first direct WiFi printing solution for those devices. In addition, users of iPod Touch devices can print photos directly to the ESP 7250 through the new Kodak Pic Flick application.

“Kodak is proud to offer consumers innovative high-quality printing solutions that give them the flexibility to easily connect, print and share,” said Bob Ohlweiler, Kodak’s Director and Vice President of Inkjet Systems, Europe. “Sharing images is key to preserving memories. The new ESP 7250 enables consumers to do that easily from their Smartphone1 and share prints that not only have incredible quality but an incredible value.”

The ESP 7250 joins Kodak’s award-winning line of printers that allow consumers to print vivid colour documents and KODAK lab-quality photos4 for less, saving on average up to £75 a year on ink based on as few as four pages per day3. Kodak prints have achieved best-in-class permanence ratings from the leading independent testing laboratory, Wilhelm Imaging Research (WIR).

Value does not come with compromises on the ESP 7250. In addition to saving on ink, the ESP 7250 combines the latest in KODACOLOR printing technology with affordable, premium-quality pigment ink cartridges to deliver brilliant documents and KODAK Lab-Quality photos4 that dry instantly, are water and fade resistant5 and last a lifetime6.

KODAK AiO Printers use Kodak’s premium pigmented inks that come in a simple two-cartridge set-up. Kodak Black Ink Cartridge 10B cartridges retail for £6.99 rrp, and a five-ink colour cartridge, Kodak Colour Ink Cartridge 10C, which offers 10% more pages than the previous #10 colour cartridge 8 , retails at £11.99 rrp. In addition, Kodak have recently announced a new Kodak Black Ink Cartridge 10XL £11.49rrp which yields 70% more pages than the standard Kodak Black Ink Cartridge 10B 9, providing greater convenience for consumers who print more frequently and want to change their ink cartridges less often.



The KODAK ESP 7250 offers:

Latest Wi-Fi technology and extremely easy wireless set-up;
Direct printing from Smartphones1
Built-in duplexer, intelligent paper sensor and auto-engaging photo trays saving time and money;
Affordable, premium-quality pigmented inks and porous papers that dry instantly, and are water and fade resistant5;
2.4 inch colour LCD display screen and memory card slots;
Print speeds of up to 32 pages per minute in black and 30 pages per minute in color8;

Available in June 2010, the KODAK ESP 7250 retails for £169.99 Kodak Black Ink Cartridge 10XL and Kodak Colour Ink Cartridge10C are now available Learn more about Kodak’s inkjet portfolio and see how much you’re overpaying for ink at www.printandprosper.com.

1Compatible with iPhone (with OS 2.2 or later) and iPod Touch (2nd generation).

2As compared to leading consumer inkjet printers total ink load replacement costs using manufacturers recommended ink cartridges; excludes printers that use only one cartridge. Based on independent third party cartridge pricing survey data obtained Sept 2009.

3 Results based on average ink costs of leading consumer inkjet printers using average annual print volumes of 150 4x6 colour photos, 800 text pages and 550 mixed colour graphic pages using standard cartridges available in single quantity pricing .Actual results may vary, for more information visit www.kodak.com/go/inkdata

4 Using KODAK Ultra Premium and KODAK Premium Photo Papers.
5 Based on testing by Wilhelm Imaging Research (WIR) and Kodak internal testing on Kodak photo and Ultimate plain papers. Under all common consumer display and storage environments.

6 Under all common consumer display and storage environments. Based on testing by Wilhelm Imaging Research (WIR) on Kodak papers.

7 Based on fastest document print mode using WINDOWS OS-based PCs that meet recommended system requirements. Actual results may vary.
8) Page yield comparison to No. 10 colour cartridge based on ISO/IEC 24711 using ISO/IEC 24712 test target of Kodak testing methodology, utilising KODAK All-in-One Printers. Actual results may vary. See kodak.com/go/inkdata for details.

9 Page yield comparison based on ISO/IEC 24711 using ISO/IEC 19752 test target or Kodak testing methodology, utilizing KODAK All-in-One Printers. Actual results may vary. See kodak.co.uk/go/inkdata for details.

Thinking of moving from iPhoto to Aperture?

In this feature we'll show you how to improve your image editing experience by upgrading from iPhoto to Apple's pro-level photography image editor, Aperture 3.

Apple ships iPhoto with every new Mac and is a great way to organize all your photos. It also has a handy set of editing tools, not to mention the other features to help you share your pictures online with Flickr, MobileMe and Facebook. You can use iPhoto to print your snaps in books and calendars as well as traditional lab-quality photos from online vendors or by using your own photo-printer.

However, while there’s a raft of benefits to using iPhoto, upgrading to Aperture 3 is the next step if you want to get more from your photography, and a logical move if you've upgraded from a digital compact camera to a DSLR. We'll show you some of the most obvious benefits, as well as reveal some of the more obscure, though no less compelling, reasons for upgrading to Apple's pro-photography image editor.

Compatibility

Before that though, it's as well to check and see that your Mac is compatible. While iPhoto '09 will run on anything, just about, Aperture 3 is a little more demanding. Aperture runs on any current Mac although any Intel Mac running OSX 10.5.8 or higher with 1GB, preferably 2GB or more, will do.

Exporting iPhoto's Library

Moving your images to Aperture 3.0 couldn't be easier and all your previous organization structure (events, albums, books etc), ratings, keywords, adjustments, places and faces are maintained. Simply install Aperture 3.0 then you can either import your iPhoto Library from a dialog that appears or, later on, from the File menu. Select iPhoto Library (File > Import > iPhoto Library). You'll have to decide if you want leave the images where they are (as referenced files), or import them into Aperture's Library (as managed files). As the latter duplicates the images, I would strongly recommend the former.

If you want to experiment first, you can import a few photos, or a whole event, or album, from the iPhoto Browser. Simply select File > Import > Show iPhoto Browser. Drag the images, or album, from the browser to Aperture's Library Inspector and Aperture will import the photos into an Untitled Project.

And, don't forget there are other benefits too. When you edit an image in iPhoto the picture file is duplicated. In Aperture, any changes, or versions (duplicates with edits for example), are stored in a single file, saving hard drive space. These variations and versions are managed by Aperture, so you don't have to take any additional steps to keep track of the changes. It's all done for you.

Like iPhoto, you don't have to have your photos stored on your computer's hard drive. If you have thousands of images you may want to store them on an external drive to save space on your start-up disk. Indeed, Aperture can reference these (without importing them into the Library on your computer’s hard drive) or you could set up a number of additional Libraries on the external disk.

This is much like the functionality of iPhoto only with the added benefit that Aperture can back-up this Library in the form of a Vault. As you’re trying to protect your library from failure, make sure a Vault is set-up on a second hard disk. There’s little point having one on the same drive.

Tip: If you lack spare computer ports, simply daisy-chain a second drive off the first using FireWire.

Adjustments and Effects

In use, you'll find iPhoto's simplicity extends to Aperture 3. As well as a raft of image enhancement options, Aperture 3 has a number of automatic adjustment presets to help you on your way.

There are quick-fixes for exposure, revealing detail in shadows and holding highlights, an excellent auto-enhance (great for beginners and pros alike) and there are a wide range of B&W options too. The real power with these quick-fixes though, is that you can fine-tune them to your liking and then save them as additional presets. After that, you can apply your custom presets to single images or whole albums at a time. It’s an immensely powerful feature that will save you time in front of your computer screen.

There are way too many features to talk through in-depth, and for tips and tutorials I would obviously recommend keeping this site bookmarked for those. However, there are plenty of Auto options for beginners, including a new Auto Curves feature, as well as the familiar adjustment sliders that work globally, like those in iPhoto.

Selective Editing

Aperture 3 also adds the option to paint (brush) on these enhancements locally. This local adjustment technique is often referred to as selective editing. For example, you could Intensify Contrast and add Sharpening to the eyes in a portrait leaving the rest untouched. In time, more advanced editing may include several areas of color balancing and adjustment using Curves. Sounds much more complicated than it really is.

Quick Brushes offers additional effects to the Adjustment Brushes and include Skin Smoothing, Dodge (lighten) and Burn (darken) as well as more specific, individual adjustment of Contrast, Saturation, Vibrancy and others. And, with an edge-detection option available for some, you don’t need to be an experienced retoucher to get the results you want from either of these brush tool options.

Because Aperture 3 works non-destructively, any number of steps can be applied without fear of continual image degradation. And because of that, Aperture 3 lets you experiment easily and grow in confidence in your own pace. Why not try Aperture 3 now, and see for yourself.

For information on how to get the most from Aperture 3, why not bookmark this site?

Sony announces A390 and A290 DSLRs

Sony has announced upgrades to the A330 and A230 entry-level DSLRs. As hinted at by leaks on the internet, the new models, called the A390 and A290, respectively, feature 14.2 megapixel resolution sensors (up from 10.2MP) a new, larger grip and some slight cosmetic updates. The new A390 also replaces the A380. Prices are £449 (inc VAT ) for the A390 body only, while the A290 is listed at £399 on the Sony UK site. Both are available for pre-order now, with delivery 5-days after release.

Sony A390

Sony A290

Press release:

More style and value by Sony for first-time DSLR users Easy-to-use DSLR-A390 and DSLR-A290 with 14.2 megapixels

Sony A390 (left) & A290 (right)

• DSLR-A390 with 14.2 megapixels, Quick AF Live View and 6.7cm (2.7-inch) tilt LCD; DSLR-A290 with 14.2 megapixels
• Compact, stylish body with new grip design and revised button layout for comfortable handling
• Quick AF Live View with tilt LCD (α390) for live image preview with fast, accurate autofocus
• Friendly on-screen Help Guide and Graphic Display
• HDMI output and BRAVIA Sync



The α (Alpha) digital SLR range from Sony grows further with two stylish, affordable new entry-level cameras.

Ideal for first-time DSLR users, the DSLR-A390 (α390) and DSLR-A290 (α290) offer a dramatic step up in picture quality and creative options from point-and-shoot compact cameras. Just as importantly, they’re beautifully easy to use, even if you’ve never handled a DSLR before.

With a resolution of 14.2 effective megapixels for flawless, low-noise images, both cameras offer the speedy shooting responses that are prized by DSLR users. The α390 adds the extra benefit of Quick AF Live View. This unique system teams the convenience of live image preview on the tilt-angle Clear Photo LCD with speedy, accurate phase-detection autofocus.

The most affordable new DSLR from Sony, the α290 offers the same 14.2 effective megapixel resolution as the α390 in a compact body that weighs just 456g (excluding battery and media).

Both cameras feature an attractive new grip design that allows even more comfortable handling. Upper control areas of both models have also been revised with a clear, uncluttered new button layout.

Even DSLR novices will find it brilliantly simple to explore the generous creative features of both new cameras. The intuitive Graphic Display makes it easy to understand the relation between shutter speed and aperture, plus the effects of your chosen exposure settings on the final picture. The Help Guide offers clear, concise explanations of camera functions, illustrated by a sample image to show the results you’ll achieve. Quick access to shooting and playback function menus is streamlined by colourful on-screen icons.

The α390 and α290 include a mini-HDMI terminal for direct connection to any HD Ready TV (requires optional cable). Support for PhotoTV HD ensures even better-looking still image reproduction on compatible BRAVIA™ models. BRAVIA™ Sync allows control of slideshow and other camera playback functions in comfort using your TV remote.

The stylish, easy to use new α390 and α290 digital SLR cameras by Sony are available from summer 2010.

Adobe officially releases Lightroom 3

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Now Available

Major Release Advances Image Quality, Performance and Workflow Flexibility for Photographers

London., — June 8, 2010 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the immediate availability of Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® 3 software for Windows® and Macintosh, the essential digital photography workflow solution that allows photographers to quickly organize, enhance and showcase their images from one application. First released as a public beta in October 2009, the final version of Lightroom 3 introduces a completely redesigned performance architecture that better handles growing image libraries and provides an unrivaled raw processing engine with noise reduction and sharpening tools to achieve the highest image quality. The 64-bit capable Lightroom 3 includes new features that optimise workflows and allow images to be shared in creative ways, including support for DSLR video files and tethered shooting on select cameras.

“There have been over 600,000 downloads of the Lightroom 3 public beta, which has supplied us with a huge amount of valuable feedback from a passionate community of professional and advanced amateur photographers,” said Kevin Connor, vice president of product management for Digital Imaging at Adobe. “The open dialog we have with our customers allows us to further improve Lightroom and provide the best tools they need to produce high-quality images. We’re happy to see that so many people are anxiously anticipating the final release, so they can start taking advantage of all the new features they had a hand in developing.”

Public Beta Process Perfects Lightroom 3 New Features
Re-built from its core to be lightening fast and responsive, Lightroom 3 adds power throughout the application to provide a fluid experience for photographers. Images load almost instantaneously, and the import experience has been redesigned to be more intuitive, with added previews and default selections that give users quick access to sort through and find images. Helping streamline and adapt to photographers’ changing workflows, Lightroom 3 now allows users to import and manage DSLR video files, as well as take advantage of tethered shooting for select Nikon and Canon cameras.

New state-of-the-art photographic tools help photographers bring out the best in their images. Unrivaled Luminance and Color Noise Reduction tools help produce a clearer picture from high ISO or underexposed images while still preserving details. The highly-requested Automatic Lens Correction feature can dramatically improve the results possible with any lens by allowing users to apply profiles that correct for undesirable geometric distortions, chromatic aberrations, and lens vignette effects that most lenses introduce to the image. Users now also have a straighten tool to perfect vertical and horizontal perspective, additional presets for applying more photographic adjustment styles, and three new contemporary vignette styles and a Grain effect to add a more natural look with images.

Lightroom 3 Expands Image Showcasing
Output options have also been enhanced in this release, with new capabilities to publish collections on online sharing sites. Flickr® users have the ability to synch their accounts to Lightroom with one click, and integration with additional online photo sharing sites can be added via third-party plug-ins. Customisable print layouts provide more refined control over how photographers present final images, and new watermarking features with options to modify text, size, location and style, help give professionals and amateurs flexibility for branding images. Lightroom 3 now also includes the ability to export polished slideshows as video files with the option to add audio and title screens.

Pricing and Availability
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 for Windows and Macintosh is available now at www.adobe.com/uk/store. The estimated street price is £198 for new users with an upgrade price of £63 for qualified registered Lightroom users. Recommended system requirements are Macintosh OS X v 10.5, 10.6 with Intel® based processor, or Microsoft® Windows® 7, Windows Vista® Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise or Windows XP with Service Pack 3, Intel® Pentium® 4 processor, 2 GB RAM and a 1,024x768 resolution screen.

Additional information on product features, upgrade policies, pricing, and language versions is available on www.adobe.com/uk/products/photoshoplightroom.

Join the Lightroom community on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lightroom) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/lightroom).

Brian Duffy 1933-2010

Brian Duffy, self-portrait

Brian Duffy, one of a trio of truly iconic British photographers during the '60s, has died at the age of 76.

Duffy, along with David Bailey and Terence Donovan, was the least well-known of the three in the UK. He'll be remembered for attempting to burn his life's work in 1979, a result of being less commercially successful perhaps than his two main rivals, but Duffy was no less talented a photographer and his images are some of the most enduring of the era.

He was suffering from lung disease and died on the 31st May 2010.

Aladdin Sane, David Bowie, photographer Brian Duffy.

The website of Brian Duffy can be seen here. (Please wait for it to load.)

Nik Software unwraps new Academic Program

Lower product prices and expanded distribution broaden reach to the academic community in North America.

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) June 3, 2010 — Nik Software announces today a new academic program designed to make its award-winning digital imaging software products accessible to more students and faculty located in the U.S. and Canada at more affordable prices. The program includes broader academic distribution through channels serviced by The Douglas Stewart Company and pricing up to 50% off standard retail prices for all students and educators at any accredited educational institution.

This distribution partnership with The Douglas Stewart Company now enables us to offer academic pricing on a much broader scale and reach virtually every student and educator in North America. “We have been committed to the academic market for over a decade and have always seen the importance of supporting the next generation of aspiring photographers,” said Michael Slater, president and CEO of Nik Software.

The Douglas Stewart Company is the leading distributor and marketer of computer products, consumer electronics and school supplies exclusively serving the education market. By partnering with The Douglas Stewart Company, academic versions of all Nik Software products will be available through thousands of new stores, including traditional college bookstores.

In addition, educational retailers like Journey Education and Academic Superstore, as well as traditional Nik Software retailers such as Amazon, B&H Photo and others, will also sell boxed academic versions. Eligibility for students and faculty is provided by a simple third-party verification service.

Discounted pricing for Academic versions of Nik Software products are as follows:


Dfine 2.0 - $49.99
Viveza 2 - $99.99
Color Efex Pro 3.0 Complete - $149.99
Silver Efex Pro - $99.99
Sharpener Pro 3.0 - $99.99
Complete Collection for Lightroom and Aperture - $149.99
Complete Collection Ultimate Edition for Photoshop, Lightroom, and Aperture - $299.99

Free fully functional 15-day trial software, live online training, and over 80 training videos are available for all Nik Software products at: http://www.niksoftware.com.

About Nik Software
Nik Software, Inc. is a privately held company that develops software solutions and provides award-winning educational programs for the digital imaging and photography markets. Established in 1995, Nik Software has become the recognized leader in digital photographic filter development and produces award-winning technology and software products for digital photography and imaging professionals including U Point® technology (www.upoint.com), Dfine® 2.0, Viveza® 2, Color Efex Pro™ 3.0, Silver Efex Pro™, and Sharpener Pro™ 3.0 software. For more information visit www.niksoftware.com.

PocketWizard add AC3 ZoneController

PocketWizard has announced the AC3 ZoneController, and add-on to the on-camera Mini TT1 Transmitter or Flex TT5 Transceiver giving three zones of flash control. Whether working in E-TTL or manual mode, AC3 provides control over slaves directly from the camera’s position.

Key Features:
• Three independent zones of flash control.
• 6-stops of flash control in 1/3-stop increments.
• Works in PowerTracking E-TTL II or Manual mode.
• Turn zones On & Off remotely.
• Works with Canon Speedlites, Elinchrom RX, and Alien Bees flash. Nikon coming soon.
• Put your flashes where you want, without worrying about accessing them during a shoot.

The AC3 will ship at the end of June for $69.99 / £59.99 inc VAT.

Black Rapid add FastenR-3 to range

Black Rapid, the manufacturer of a innovative of camera-straps, has announced a new nickel-plated stainless steel securing screw, called FastenR-3 to the range. This new securing-point features enhanced locking ridges on the underside (not shown), and a highly compressible washer, to ensure a solid connection between your camera and Black Rapid strap. The FastenR-3 is designed as replacement for the standard fastener (FastenR-2) on the RS4, RS5 and RS7 and retails at £14 inc VAT. The FastenR-3 is available now.

For more information please see here.


Be sure to check back soon for our review of the Black Rapid RS-5.

Pretec outs world's fastest and largest CF card

Pretec, one of the most innovative CF card makers in the world, has today announced the world's highest capacity CF card, at 128GB. It's rated at 567x (up to 85 MB/s), however the company has also released details of a super-high speed card, rated at 667x (up to 100 MB/s) but with a lower maximum capacity of 64GB. Production will start in June this year and both cards will have a suggested retail of $699.

Rival pro-spec CF cards, such as that from both SanDisk and Lexar Media are currently rated at 600x (90MB/s) and are similarly available up to 64GB in capacity (32GB for Lexar Pro cards).

For more information please read the press release below.

Taipei, Taiwan, May 28th 2010
－
Pretec, creator of the highest capacity CompactFlash card in the world since 1998 and the fastest CF card in the world , continues today its record breaking history in the field of speed and capacity by unveiling the even higher capacity and speed CF128GB card at Computex Taipei 2010 (TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall, Lower Exhibition Hall booth J317a).

Pretec today releases 128GB 567X CF cards with access speed approaching 100MB/s, overtaking the Pretec 233X 100GB CF card, the previous Pretec world’s highest capacity record holder; and super high speed 667X 64GB card capable of running up to 100 MB per second of Read/Write speed, the highest speed CF card in the world. Both Pretec 128GB 567X CF card and 667X 64GB CF card will be shown at the upcoming Computex Taipei 2010.

To continue the high reliability tradition of Pretec CF card series, CF 567X and 667X CF cards are constructed with unique precision metal housing to provide extensive ruggedness. Since such high speed CF cards have already exceed the access speed of USB 2.0, Pretec has provided a low cost version of IDE to CF card readers for more than 10 years, in which users can use the high speed CF card in a PC conveniently beyond the speed of USB2.0.

In order to cope with the high speed era beyond IDE/CF limitation of theoretical maximum speed of 133MB/s, Pretec has also released two super high speed products together with the CF 567X and 667X CF cards:

- Pretec’s ExpressCard CompactFlash Reader for MacBook Pro or Notebook equipped with ExpressCard 34/54 slot, capable of access 100MB/s of super high speed Pretec products now, with theoretic maximum interface speed for more than 300MB/s, this CF card reader is the highest speed in the world.

- Pretec’s CFast card, released on 2009 in CES, is the highest speed CF sized small form factor card, with access speed of more than 133MB/s, fully compliant with next generation CF specification from CFA. Even higher speed and capacity CFast cards will be released by Pretec soon.

Both Pretec 567X 128GB and 667X 64GB CF cards are sampling now, with suggested retail price of $699, mass production will start by June of 2010.

Pretec release world's fastest CF and SD card readers

Taipei, Taiwan, May 28th 2010
－
Pretec, the leader of the highest capacity CompactFlash card (128GB), fastest CompactFlash card(667X), and first SDXC card in the world, releases today a CF card reader and one SD/SDXC card reader based on ExpressCard interface, to be the fastest CF card reader in the world and fastest SD/SDXC card reader in the world. Such high performance card readers will also be shown at Pretec booth at Computex Taipei 2010 (TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall, Lower Exhibition Hall booth J317a).

With interface speed of 2.5Gb/s and actual transfer speed up to 100MB/s working with Pretec 567X series and 667X series CF cards or other high-speed UDMA card, Pretec ExpressCard CompactFlash Reader is the world’s fastest CompactFlash card reader. The ultra high performance allows professional SLR camera users to cut down the time on file transfer and improve workflow drastically.

With interface speed of 2.5Gb/s and actual transfer speed up to 63MB/s working with Pretec 32GB/64GB SDXC cards or other high-speed SDXC card, Pretec ExpressCard SDXC Reader is the world’s fastest and first SDXC compatible reader. It supports SDXC/SDHC/SD cards, the most popular storage media for digital camera, and brings advanced technology to fulfill users’ everyday needs.

Other than much higher speed compared with today’s prevailing USB 2.0 interfaces (theoretical maximum speed is 60MB/s), ExpressCard provides users with convenient slot without intruding outside the main body of PC/Notebook, compatible with more than 95% of the current PC available in the market, is an excellent interfaces for the new generation card readers for high performance memory cards.

Pretec ExpressCard CompactFlash Reader and Pretec ExpressCard SDXC Reader are sampling now, with suggested retail price of $39.99 and $29.99 respectively. Mass production is slated to start next month. Even higher speed card readers will be released by Pretec soon.

Leica Akademie photography workshops announced

The Leica Store in Mayfair, London has announced a series of new photography workshops to be held on the premises. Guest speakers will be providing insights on a range of specialist photography topics, and training on the camera maker's M rangefinders and new digital compact cameras, including the X1 and recently announced V-Lux 20 is also being offered. For more details, please read the press release below.




Press release

Leica announces new photography workshops at London training facility, Leica Akademie

26 May 2010: Leica Akademie, the company’s London training facility, has announced a new programme of photography workshops for existing and prospective customers.

Based at 34 Bruton Place, London W1, the Leica Akademie hosts owner courses and introductory workshops, and will now be offering an extended series of workshops with experienced Leica photographers.

The Leica Akademie currently offers complimentary sessions for its range of cameras, as part of its premium service in the UK. By popular demand, the Leica Akademie will now cater for photographers who want to expand their knowledge of post-production software, black and white, film, travel and holiday photography, and photographs for publication. In addition, the Leica Akademie will run bespoke workshops, tailored specifically to meet each individual’s needs.

Leica Akademie workshops operate in small group sizes to allow attendees to get the utmost support from the experts and maximise their learning potential. There is a variety of workshops to suit the needs of every Leica photographer from practical, hands-on and ‘in the field’ workshops, to classroom and workstation based sessions.

Whether participants are brand new to Leica, more experienced or somewhere in between, Leica Akademie workshops will take their skills and knowledge to the next level.

Further information on workshops and the Leica Akademie can be found at:
www.leica-storemayfair.co.uk/leica-akademie/leica-akademie.html

Range of Leica Akademie workshops currently available

· Introduction to LEICA M9
· LEICA M9 Owner workshop
· LEICA M8 / 8.2 Owner workshop
· LEICA M Film Owner workshop
· LEICA M System Bespoke workshop
· Introduction to Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom®
· Advanced Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom®
· Pictures for Profit
· See the World in Black & White
· Holiday & Travel
· Introduction to LEICA X1 / V-Lux 20 / D-Lux 4

The Leica Akademie is constantly expanding the range of workshops available to provide a destination for photographic inspiration, learning and knowledge.

About the Leica Akademie

The Leica Akademie is a training facility, with full black-out capability, incorporating the LEICA PRADOVIT D-1200 projection system. It is fitted out with Naim high-end audio equipment to provide users with sound quality to complement the projector’s outstanding image quality.

The Leica Akademie offers participants the use of a personal Apple iMac workstation, with the latest photographic software and equipment, to ensure every attendee gets the most out of their experience.

The team of expert photographers includes: Gary Rowlands, Ian Farrell, Will Cheung and Brett, as well as a selection of world-class guest speakers.

Contact details for customers interested in booking workshops at the Leica Akademie:

Leica Akademie, Leica Store Mayfair, 34 Bruton Place, London W1J 6NR
akademie@leica-storemayfair.co.uk
Tel: 07514 539566

Phase One Offers free download of Expression Media to existing C1 license holders

Phase One, developers of Capture One, the high-quality Raw workflow utility are offering existing users the opportunity to download a free copy of the recently acquired Expression Media asset management utility, (see yesterday's news story here).

Fore more details, including the option to download the utility, see here.

Phase One buys Expression Media from Microsoft

Phase One A/S the medium format back maker and developer of the high quality Capture One raw software utility has unexpectedly acquired the Expression Media (PC, Mac) application from Microsoft Corp. Expression Media was formerly known and widely respected by imaging pros as iView Media Pro. Microsoft Corp added iView to its portfolio a number of years ago.

Read the full press release:

Phase One, a Digital Photography Leader, Acquires Microsoft’s Expression Media Product

Agreement focuses on strong customer support throughout transition.

REDMOND, Wash., and COPENHAGEN, Denmark — May 25, 2010 — Microsoft Corp. and Phase One A/S, a leader in digital photography, are announcing that Phase One acquired the Microsoft Expression Media product. This agreement is built on an existing strategic alliance between the companies forged in 2007 to improve digital imaging solutions for professional and enthusiast photographers.

Expression Media is a leading digital asset management application used to catalog and organize photos, video and music for effortless retrieval, presentation and sharing. Expression Media will join Phase One’s product lineup, which includes open-platform-based, medium- format camera systems able to render up to 60.5 megapixel resolution, and Capture One raw- conversion and image-editing software, which supports more than 170 different file formats and provides superior image quality with excellent color and detail. Phase One products are used by some of the world’s leading photographers.

“We’re excited about taking ownership of Expression Media,” said Henrik O. Håkonsson, president and CEO, Phase One. “We have worked with Microsoft for several years, during which many of our customers have chosen Expression Media for their digital asset management needs. We are now planning product developments to help meet the growing needs of current and future customers. As an immediate benefit to existing Expression Media customers who may not yet have tried it, we are offering a free copy of Capture One to help enhance their photographic workflow.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Phase One takes full ownership of the Expression Media product. To ensure a smooth transition for Expression Media customers, Microsoft will continue to provide support to retail customers for 90 days. Phase One will begin offering support for the Expression Media product after the 90-day transition period. Microsoft customers who are currently using Expression Media under an Enterprise Agreement will continue to receive support from Microsoft through the term of their agreements. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“Microsoft's sale of Expression Media to Phase One, within the context of the companies' relationship, is good news for the future of the product and for its customers,” said IDC analyst Ron Glaz. “Phase One's focus and expertise in the digital photography market make it well suited to drive product developments that will best serve the growing needs of imaging professionals.”

“Phase One is a respected and deeply committed leader in the digital photography market. With its strong experience in digital imaging software solutions, we’re thrilled that it will drive this technology forward,” said Josh Weisberg, director of Strategy and Business Development at Microsoft. “Through this agreement, we’ve made every effort to ensure that the integrity of the Expression Media technology remains intact and that our customers experience a seamless transition.”

The agreement was brokered by Microsoft’s IP Ventures program, a vehicle for Microsoft to get technologies into the hands of other businesses, spurring the economy and putting the best innovations in the hands of consumers. Microsoft will continue to develop the Expression Studio design tools for Silverlight and .Net.

Additional information about the Expression Media product and transition to Phase One is available at http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/expressionmedia2/default.aspx and http://www.phaseone.com/expressionmedia2.

As an aside, most, if not all, of the images on this site are prepared for publication using iView Media Pro.

Lexar shipping 16GB and 32GB Pro 133x speed SDHC

Lexar Media has announced their pro-spec (133x) SDHC cards are now available* in both 16GB and 32GB capacities.

*Amazon UK are only showing the LEXAR 16 GB 133x Professional SDHC Media Card at the time of posting.

Press release:

Lexar Media Now Shipping 16GB and 32GB Professional 133x Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) Memory Cards

Increased Capacity Enables Capture of High-Quality Images and Video with SDHC-Compatible Digital SLR Cameras

May 25, 2010 – Lexar Media, a leading global provider of memory products for digital media, today announced that it is shipping Lexar® Professional 133x Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) memory cards in 16GB and 32GB capacities to retail outlets. For additional information about the 16GB and 32GB Lexar Professional 133x SDHC cards, visit www.lexar.com.

The Lexar Professional SDHC memory cards offer the maximum Class 10 speed rating, providing a blazing-fast minimum sustained write speed capability of 133x (20MB per second), while the higher capacities of the new 16GB and 32GB cards make them an excellent choice for shooting higher-resolution images and large-sized, high-definition video files with SDHC-compatible digital SLR cameras. In addition to enabling photographers to fully leverage a digital SLR’s high-speed processor, the Professional SDHC cards significantly accelerate image download times from the card to a host computer, improving the digital workflow.

“As camera manufacturers introduce new models that capture both photo and video content, photographers need memory solutions that keep up with their evolving shooting needs,” said Manisha Sharma, director of worldwide memory card product marketing, Lexar Media. “With the 16GB and 32GB capacities of the Lexar Professional SDHC cards, photographers can shoot longer without having to switch cards and potentially miss an amazing image. Photographers everywhere understand the benefits of increased capacities, and we’re pleased to be offering these cards to them through our extensive channel network.”

All Lexar memory card and card reader designs are tested in the Lexar Quality Labs, facilities with more than 800 digital cameras and memory card devices, to ensure performance, quality, compatibility, and reliability. Lexar performs this extensive testing in an effort to provide customers with the highest level of confidence, whether they are capturing once-in-a-lifetime memories, important events, or everyday occasions.

Customers can also access Lexar’s Digital Photography website, a dedicated, online resource and tips destination (http://www.lexar.com/dp/), and can leverage phone and live-chat tech support. Lexar provides these services and resources to customers to minimize the time required for troubleshooting card issues and to provide tools for photographers to optimize their shooting and focus on capturing great images.

All Lexar Professional memory cards include a limited lifetime warranty, a free downloadable copy of Image Rescue® 4 software, and exclusive, money-saving promotions from Adobe on popular photo and video editing products, including the latest versions of Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom®, Adobe Photoshop Elements, and Adobe Premiere® Elements software.

Canon announce EOS 5D MkII firmware upgrade

Canon has today announced a firmware upgrade (v2.07) for the popular full-frame Canon Digital SLR Camera EOS 5D Mark II. The firmware is said to fix irregular aperture control in manual and aperture-priority exposure modes when shooting movies, address intermittent difference in exposure level between the viewfinder and LCD panel, and fix an occasional issue with powering down the wireless file transmitters (WFT-E4 and WFT-E4II).

The firmware update can be found here.

Domke add grey Limited range

Domke has announced a Limited range of bags in a rather fetching grey canvas and black trim. Just three models of the popular bags* have been selected for the new colour; the original F-2 (above), mid-size F-10 and super-compact F-3x. Prices start at £109.99, but there's no word as yet on availability.

Press release:

LIMITED OFFER GREY VERSIONS OF TRADITIONAL DOMKE BAGS

Domke the bag of choice for demanding press men and discerning enthusiasts the world over, has produced a limited production run in grey fabric with a coordinated black trim, of the three bags that built the company's legendary reputation.

The three bags to get the grey makeover are the F-10 Medium Shoulder Bag, F-3X Super Compact and the famous F-2 Original - the first bag in the Domke line some 30 years ago!

Grey is currently additional to the other fabric colours in the range and the models will continue to be available in sand, black, olive, brown, navy and wax finish Ruggedwear.

In all other respects the grey bags encompass trademark Domke features including practical design, durable fabrics and high quality fasteners and zips.

Prices for the new special limited edition bags are as follows: Model F-10 Shoulder Bag Grey £109.99, F-3X Super Compact Bag Grey £149.99, F-2 Original Bag Grey £174.99.

Commented Daniel Waite Tiffen's International Sales Manager Domke Products: "We are not sure as yet how many bags have been produced but this initiative provides an unparalleled opportunity for photographers to acquire one of Domke's iconic bags, with a unique slant.

Details of Domke select dealers or further information on the range, can be obtained by contacting the UK distributor Swains International plc on 0845 450 4242, sales@swains.co.uk or www.swains.co.uk

*Amazon UK has the Domke F-2 DOMKE'S Original Bag - Sand listed, but not the Limited models at the time of posting.

Nikon add Lens Postioning Map

Nikon has added an intriguing Lens Postioning Map, allowing users to plan their range, add new lenses and compare coverage against the optics they have already. I'm not sure how helpful it is, but as a marketing tool it works quite well to promote their range even if it masks some of the shortcomings with their older lenses. Still, to their credit, Nikon are working they way through them, one by one.

Perhaps of more help to people is the Lenses Simulator, you can use it to see just what coverage your prospective purchase will give you.

Leica unwrap new 35mm f/1.4 Summilux

Leica has announced the long-rumoured update to the 35mm f/1.4 Summilux, optimised for the digital Leica M9. The lens has been re-computed and adds a close-range correction, or 'floating', rear design for improved imaging at closer distances. According to the press release, the new lens will be available towards the end of June (2010), an will carry a ticket of £3,375 including VAT.

More information can be found here.

Lo-Fi Friday

Olympus E-PL1, processed in Aperture 3.

Olympus E-PL1, Diorama Art Filter (no additional processing).