News archive for October 2008

Just Posted! Canon EOS 50D in-depth review. Canon's EOS 50D is essentially a 40D body with a newly-developed 15 megapixel sensor, a 3.0 inch VGA screen and Canon's updated imaging processor, the DIGIC 4. Canon claims the new sensor's design (new manufacturing processes, redesigned photo diodes and micro lenses) means that despite the higher resolution image noise has improved. As you might imagine, we've had a closer look at this. Find out more after the link. Review now updated using the final version of Adobe Camera Raw 4.6.

Olympus has announced firmware updates for several of its lenses to allow their use with the Panasonic DMC-G1. The updated lenses are the 35mm F3.5 Macro, 25mm F2.8 pancake, 35-100mm F2 and 40-150mm F4.0-5.6. Once upgraded, the lenses will be 'compatible' with the G1. (Update: The 25mm pancake and 40-150mm F4.0-5.6 lenses will autofocus on the G1, but it has been confirmed that the 35mm Macro and 35-100mm F2 will not.)

Canon has released new firmware for the EOS 50D, taking it to version 1.0.3. The latest version corrects three issues, two of which the company describes as 'rare.' One of the problems addressed is the much-discussed Err99 error message that can prevent the camera taking photos.

Nikon has today announced a firmware update for the D300, taking it to v1.10. The update improves focus performance in dynamic-area AF mode contrast-detect mode in live view but also looks at a whole range of other issues. Click through for links to more information and the downloads.

It's taken us a little while, but we've finally found the time to write up a much-needed 'Help' section for our lens reviews. Focusing mainly on how to use our interactive data display 'widget', but also featuring useful tidbits of extra information and a 'Frequently Asked Questions' page, it can be found in the 'Learn/Glossary' section of the site.

Just Posted! Sony Alpha 900 in-depth review. Sony's eagerly anticipated flagship digital SLR finally gives Minolta/Konica Minolta users a full frame option and, on paper, looks like a strong new entry to the exclusive full frame club. Featuring the 24.6 MP CMOS sensor announced in January, the Alpha 900 offers several enticing features, including sensor-shift image stabilization, a super 100% coverage viewfinder and the same high resolution screen as the Alpha 700. To find out how it fared in our extensive testing check out the in-depth review after the link.

Adobe has released updates to its Camera Raw Plug-in for Photoshop CS4 and Lightroom 2. Camera Raw 5.1 provides raw support to the 15 cameras that were included in the 4.6 update for CS3 users. Lightroom 2.1 has now been released officially, improving Photoshop integration and keyword migration from Lightroom.

Mamiya has released the DL28 digital medium format camera system. It is a combination of the Aptus-II 6 Digital Back from Leaf and the 645AFD III body, that features a new coreless autofocus motor and an enhanced interface system. Sporting a 28 MP image sensor with a pixel pitch of 7.2 microns, the features of DL28 include 16-bit capture, 12 stop dynamic range and an ISO range of 50-800. Priced at $14,999, it will be available in November.

Apple has released Aperture 2.1.2, a minor update to its RAW-conversion and photo management software. The update improves the printing quality of books, cards and calendars ordered via the Aperture printing service and is recommended for users of Aperture 2.

Adobe has announced the availability of Photoshop Creative Suite 4. Priced at US$699, the CS4 version features a unified tabbed interface, enhanced color correction and non-destructive editing tools. To speed up operations, it features OpenGL support and 64-bit support (although only for Windows users). Along with Photoshop CS4, Adobe has also announced the availability of the entire Creative Suite 4 product family.

Creators of the 'black silicon' that has been much discussed, following an article in the New York Times, have said it's too early to discuss what their material's benefits might be for digital photography. The novel, doped silicon technology holds out the promise of increased sensitivity but is still in development by SiOnyx, a Harvard University spin-off.

Phase One has released Capture One 4 PRO, a new version of its RAW workflow software. The lastest version features an enhanced Color Editor and Styles palette. A new Skin Tone tool has been added that helps to set and reproduce skin tones without the use of a gray card. In addition, a lens correction tool has been added to help minimize chromatic aberration, distortion, fringing and features a vignetting tool for framing.

Just posted! Our latest lens review starring Canon's eagerly-awaited 'superzoom' for APS-C DSLRs, the EF-S 18-200mm F3.5-5.6 IS. This much-requested lens was finally delivered by Canon as an accompaniment to the EOS 50D, so we've put it though its paces on the new DSLR using our comprehensive studio test suite. To find out how Canon's latest optic performs (and how it matches up to the demands of a 15Mp sensor) follow the link.

Olympus, Panasonic and Sigma have jointly launched a firmware update service for the Four Thirds system standard. The service enables users to install future DSLR lens firmware updates via their four thirds camera, even if the body and lens are not by the same manufacturer. The move allows all Four Thirds system users to ensure their lenses include all the latest revisions.

Just Posted: Nikon D90 in-depth review. The D90 has some large shoes to step into, given that it replaces one of the most popular enthusiast-level cameras of recent times. We saw in our preview that it's had a feature boost and specification upgrade, but do those tweaks and changes result in a better camera (and images)? Has a fine camera been over-burdened with fripperies and video recording? We find out in our full, in depth review.

Olympus has released a limited edition model, the Stylus 1040 Crystal, embedded with 98 Swarovski crystals on the sliding lens barrier. The 10 MP super slim camera with a 2.7”LCD and 3x (38-114mm equiv) zoom lens includes features such as Advanced Face Detection, Shadow Adjustment and Intelligent Auto Mode. This Crystal edition is now available for an approximate price of £175.

Adobe Systems has released the full version of its Adobe Camera Raw 4.6 plug-in. This latest update extends support to the Pentax K2000 (K-m) and the latest cameras and backs from Leaf. In addition, the cameras given provisional support in the beta are now fully covered. The update will be the last expansion of coverage for Photoshop CS3.

We have just added two sample HD movies from the Canon 5D Mark II at 1080p resolution to the camera's preview. We'd recommend downloading them, rather than trying to view them on the page because 1920 x 1080 pixels at 30 frames per second makes for substantial files.

Eye-Fi has added popular websites including Flickr and Twitter to the list that users of its wi-fi memory cards can upload images to. Changes to the Eye-Fi Manager web application also allow the creation of RSS feeds. 'Direct-upload' options have also been expanded to include Apple's MobileMe and AdoramaPix. This follows the partnership the company has recently established with Lexar.

Just Posted! Nikon D700 in-depth review. When Nikon launched its first ever full-frame DSLR, the D3, in August last year it was an instant success with professionals and serious amateurs alike. Now Nikon has transplanted the D3's excellent full-frame sensor into a more compact body and offers the package at a price point that is much more appealing to the masses. A recipe for success? Find out after the link.

Dpreview.com met up with one of Canon Inc's most high ranking executives, Director and Chief Executive of Image Communication Products Operations, Masaya Maeda, at Photokina for a wide-ranging conversation about current and future developments in compact and SLR digital cameras. Mr Maeda has been with Canon Inc since 1974 and is currently the head of the entire camera division, covering both DSC and the EOS DSLR system. Find out how the G10 might be split into several products with different sensors, where the future lies for full frame and video on DSLRs and what Canon thinks of the megapixel race in the last of our short series of interviews, after the link...

Taking an hour away from the bustle of the main Photokina exhibition hall we sat down to chat with Toshi Terada, Product manager of SLR product planning and Heino Hilbig, Olympus Head of Corporate Communications & Marketing Services about Micro Four Thirds, standard Four Thirds and the future. Our conversation - much of which had to take place without the tape running, unfortunately - covered a wide range of subjects, from the impact of Micro Four Thirds on the future development of the E-System to the burning question of the renaming or splitting of the Olympus Talk Forum (as regular visitors this was a subject they brought up, not us). Check out the latest in our series of interviews after the link...

There's no doubt that the star of Photokina 2008 was the Panasonic G1 - it was certainly the most talked about product as we made our way around the show for our usual round of meetings and presentations. We caught up with a large group of Panasonic's Japanese Digital Still Camera planning, engineering and marketing team, including Mr Matsumoto, the Director of the DSC unit, for an in-depth discussion of the Micro Four Thirds system and the future of the digital SLR. They kindly agreed to us publishing some of the conversation. Check out the second in our series of Photokina interviews after the link...

In the first of a series of interviews with senior executives at Photokina 2008 we met up with Samsung for chat with Mr. Choong-hyun Hwang, the Vice President of the Digital Camera Business of Samsung Techwin Strategy Marketing Team. He joined Samsung in 1983 and in 2005 was promoted to Global Marketing Director. He is currently in charge of the Product Planning. He's got some interesting things to say about the relationship with Pentax, the development of Micro Four Thirds and the future of compacts, so check out the interview after the link...

ACD Systems has released its ACDSee Photo Manager 2009 software for beginners and hobbyists to edit, organise and share photos. Features include a new import tool lets you rename, back up, categorize and add keywords to image files. Users can now supplement camera metadata and include custom information in file formats such as PNG, PDF and GIF. Other features include adding customized borders and enhanced slideshows.