News / Other Product News

DxO Labs has announced availability of FilmPack 4, the fourth version of its film-simulation software. FilmPack 4 adds 65 'even more aesthetically-pleasing renderings'. Available in two editions, Essential and Expert, a single DxO FilmPack 4 license can be used as a plugin for Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Apple Aperture, and DxO Optics Pro, and as a standalone application for Mac and Windows. Click through for the press release.

DxO Labs has released version 8.2 of its DxO Optics Pro software. Both the Elite and Standard versions gain support for the Canon EOS Rebel SL1, the Sony SLT-A58, and the Ricoh GR. Version 8.2 of DxO Optics Pro also supports all features of the newly announced FilmPack 4 as a plugin. Click through for a download link and the full press release.

ACD Systems has announced the latest version of its ACDSee photo management and editing software for Windows. ACDSee16 gains a range of editing and organizational tools, including features that simulate out-of-focus regions and tilt-shift lens effects. The latest version is available at a reduced price ($50), for a limited time, with existing users being about to upgrade for $30. A 15-day free trial is available from the company's website.

Camera feature modifier Magic Lantern has piqued interest in the five-year-old Canon EOS 50D by enabling video recording on this previously stills-only camera. The development work is still in early stages, but a user has posted raw video footage at 1592 x 720 resolution at 24p. Click through to see why videographers are excited about this newly added feature. (via EOSHD.com)

If you've ever wondered who to thank (or blame) for those 8-bit animated graphics that remain prelevant even on today's high-bandwidth Internet, Steve Wilhite is your man. He was honored for that achievement at this year's Webby Awards and took the opportunity to once again remind us how 'GIF' should be pronounced. (via New York Times)

Adobe Product Manager Tom Hogarty stressed that Adobe has, 'no plans to make Lightroom subscription-only at any point in the future.' The statement, made in light of the overwhelming response to Adobe's Creative Cloud announcement last week, was made during a Google+ Hangout today in which both Hogarty and Lightroom PM Sharad Mangalick responded to audience questions. Click through for their further statements on Lightroom features and availability.

DxO Labs has released version 8.1.6 of its DxO Optics Pro software. Both the Elite and Standard versions gain support for the Canon EOS 700D / Rebel T5i, Nikon Coolpix A and Coolpix P330, Pentax MX-1, and Sony NEX-3N. The Elite version also gains support for the Leica M. The update also adds 267 lens and cameras combinations to its library, with a list of over 12,000 combinations now available. Click through for the download link.

Camera feature modifier Magic Lantern has developed a version of its software enabling 24fps Raw video output from the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. This news has grabbed videographers' attention as it allows for individual frames of 14 bit output, yielding a much wider dynamic range than you'd get from standard 8 bit video files. EOSHD's Andrew Reid has had his hands on the latest version and discusses its implications. Click through for his accounts of this potentially game-changing capability.

Adobe's decision to move to a subscription-based model for its professional creative software has prompted probably  the most impassioned response we've ever seen to a news story on dpreview.com. There's a risk that the sheer volume of comments might prevent a clear message being heard, so we've prepared a poll of the most common complaints, to help establish what your biggest concerns are.

Yesterday's announcement by Adobe that it will cease 'perpetual license' sales of Photoshop and its Creative Suite counterparts has generated considerable backlash here on dpreview and across the web. With such a significant change in store, we spoke today with Adobe VP of Creative Solutions, Winston Hendrickson for his response to the uproar.

Adobe has said it will no longer be developing its Creative Suite range of software, leaving its subscription and cloud-based Creative Cloud as the only way of accessing the latest version of Photoshop. Adobe has been trying to encourage users away from the traditional one-off payment licenses and on to a monthly payment model, with features such as online storage and syncing between devices. This latest move ups the ante by making it the only option for future versions of the software.

Adobe has updated its suite of Creative Cloud software, with the latest versions rebranded with the appendage 'CC'. Adobe Photoshop CC highlights include the Camera Shake Reduction tool that Adobe demoed earlier this year, and the ability to apply Camera Raw as a filter to any raster, vector or video layer. Creative Cloud members can now sync their Photoshop preferences across multiple devices. Click to read about these and other Photoshop CC features.

Wacom Europe has released the Cintiq 22HD Touch, an interactive pen display graphics tablet that features a 1920 x 1080 LED monitor and offers 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity. The Photoshop-compatible display comes with a tilting, rotating stand and customizable menu options. Priced at £1899.99, the Cintiq 22HD will be available at the end of this month.

Sony Japan has launched the AKA-DM1 camera harness to mount the company's latest line of action cams on man's best friend. Priced at ¥5,250 (approximately $50), this harness fits bigger-framed dogs that weigh at least 15 kgs and have a belly circumference of 50cms - 80cms. The company's line-up of action cameras, including the Wi-Fi enabled HDR-AS15 full HD rugged action cam that was released in August 2012, are tiny and weigh around 90 gms each, making sure you wont have the RSPCA hunting you down.

Apple has added Raw support to its OS-X operating system for Fujifilm's X-Trans sensors. The latest update adds support for the four X-Trans cameras - the X20, X100S, X-E1 and X-Pro1. To install the Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update v4.05, users require Aperture v3.4 or later and iPhoto version 9.4 or later. Click through for the download link.

Benro has announced a new 'Cool Walker' line of camera bags through its UK distributor, Kenro. According to the press release, the Cool Walker line is aimed at travel and sports photographers, and includes thirteen variants of backpacks, shoulder and zoom bags. The smallest bag in the line can carry one SLR and a lens, while the largest is designed to carry two SLRs, eight lenses, two flashguns and a 15" laptop. Click through for the press release from Kenro.

Metabones has announced the schedule for the Micro Four Thirds version of its innovative 'Speed Booster' lens adapter has slipped to the second half of 2013. Like the existing version for mounting Canon EF lenses on Sony NEX cameras, the forthcoming version will allow the use of full-frame lenses, reducing the focal length by a factor of 0.71x and increases the maximum aperture by 1 stop. The Micro Four Thirds version will give a 1.4x overall 'crop' - giving a similar field of view to APS-C stills cameras and the Super35mm video format.(via 43rumors)

Manfrotto has launched the StilePlus line of camera bags aimed at fashion-conscious photographers. Intended to appeal to shutterbugs who want a practical but stylish camera bag, the company offers this range in three varieties: the  Diva 15 Tote Bag, Bravo 50 Backpack and Amica 10 shoulder bag. The bags are available in a variety of colors and sizes. UK prices start from £39.95, £69.95, £19.95, respectively. U.S. prices have yet to be confirmed.

DxO Labs has released version 8.1.5 of its DxO Optics Pro software. Both the Elite and Standard versions gain Nikon D7100 support. The update also adds 131 lens and cameras combinations for Nikon, Panasonic, Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina users. These modules join the existing list of over 11,000 combinations. Click through for the download link.

High speed camera maker Vision Research has put together its first footage with the forthcoming Phantom Flex4K video camera. Capable of capturing up to 1000 fps at 4K resolution, the Flex4K features a 10MP Super-35 sensor, records either RAW or compressed footage and will come in PL, Canon EF and Nikon F/G mounts. For this video, NYC-based cinematographer Greg Wilson and director Brendan Bellomo captured the Hebron and Glastonbury Connecticut Fire Departments in action, highlighting the camera's slow motion capabilities. Click through to watch the video.