News / Other Product News

Nik Software has released version 2 of its Silver Efex Pro black and white conversion plug-in for Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom and Apple Aperture. The upgraded version includes a history palette and better control for adjusting detail, contrast, and tonality. It is available from February 2011 at a suggested retail price of $199.95 or $99.95 to version one users.

Sony has officially announced a 5-inch clip-on LCD monitor for tasks such as shooting HD video with interchangeable lens cameras. The CLM-V55 attaches to either a Sony or ISO-standard hot shoe and takes an HDMI input. The 1,152K dot (800 x 480 pixel) display features a tilt and swivel mount and a control wheel to adjust monitor settings such as aspect ratio, brightness/contrast and colour temperature.Other features include Pixel Magnification for accurate focusing and a 'Colour Peaking' function that highlights edges of focused subjects.

PocketWizard makers LPA Design has begun a patent infringement case against Hong Kong-based manufacturer Phottix. LPA Design claims patents covering aspects of its radio communication technology and the auto-switching transceiver technology introduced for the first time in the PocketWizard's Plus II wireless trigger are being infringed by Phottix.

Lexar has released a behind-the-scenes YouTube video of its memory card production process. While the rather corportate-friendly video is unlikely to give you the ability to go out and make your own memory cards, it does provide some interesting information you might not have known.

Pre-CES 2011: SanDisk has unveiled the 128GB Extreme Pro, world's fastest high-capacity CompactFlash card with 100MB/s write speed. The card is designed for cameras with full HD video recording capabilities of up to 50Mbps bit rate and 4:2:2 color sampling, as well as full hi-resolution continuous shooting speeds. The card is available for pre-order from the company's website at a suggested retail price of $1,499.99.

Pre-CES 2011: Kingston Technology has released the UltimateXX 233x SDHC UHS-I memory cards in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB capacities. They offer maximum read speeds of up to 60MB/s and up to 35MB/sec. of write speeds. The performance of the cards is optimized when paired with UHS-I compatible devices, and supports 3D and full HD video recording features of recently released cameras.

Apple has slashed the price of its Aperture 3 raw-conversion and photo management software for Mac OS to $79.99 (originally priced at $199), when purchased as an app from its latest Mac App store. It is available for £44.99 in UK and €62.99 the European App store.
Update: Speaking to dpreview.com an Apple spokesperson would not comment on whether or not the Aperture 3 App store pricing is permanent, or part of a time-limited introductory offer. At present however, there is nothing to indicate either that the App store pricing is temporary, or that the version of Aperture 3 available from the App store differs in any way from the normal retail version.

Pre-CES 2011: Samsung has announced the HMX-P300 and HMX-P100 pocket camcorders. They are built around 1/3.2" 8Mp and 5Mp back-illuminated CMOS sensors and are capable of full 1080p HD movies at 30fps. The P300 offers a 3.0" touchscreen LCD and 3x optical zoom lens while the P100 comes with a slightly smaller 2.7" touchscreen LCD and 1x optical zoom lens. They are priced at $199 and $149 respectively.

Pre-CES 2011: Lexar has released the industry's first 128GB Class 10 SDXC (Extended capacity) memory card. With a maximum data transfer speed of 20MB/s, it complements full HD video recording and continuous shooting speeds of the latest SDXC compatible cameras. The Professional 133x SDXC 128GB card will start shipping from the first quarter of 2011 at a suggested retail price of $699.99. The company has also announced a 64GB version of the same card that will ship at an SRP of $399.99.

Pre-CES 2011: Samsung has launched the HMX-Q10 consumer camcorder with a back-illuminated CMOS sensor. Capable of recording full HD (1080i60) videos and 5MP still images, it features Switch Grip technology that adjusts display and control options according to the angle at which the camcorder is held while filming. Features include F1.8 10x optical zoom lens, 2.7" touch screen LCD and image stabilization. The HMX-Q10 will be available at a retail price of $299 from February 2011.

Topaz Labs has released ReMask 3, the latest version of its masking plug-in for Adobe Photoshop. Compared to the previous version, it offers a re-engineered masking engine, enhanced color decontamination technology and an updated user interface including new brushes, toolsets and split-screen viewing options. Compatible with Windows and Intel-based Mac OS, it is available at an introductory price of $49.99.

Sekonic has announced the DigiCineMate L-308DC light meter for photographers and videographers. The lightweight entry-level light meter offers HD Cine, Cine and Photo metering modes and three options to measure incident and reflected light - both ambient and flash. It will be available from January 2011 at a retail price of £239.99 in UK. The US price is to be confirmed.

Epson and software company Thinxtream Technologies have announced their PrintJinni mobile printing app will be available as a free application from the end of December. Currently priced at $6.99, the app for Apple's iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad wirelessly connects Epson printers and allows preview and printing of images and documents.

Topaz Labs has released the Infocus sharpening and blur reduction plug-in for Adobe Photoshop. The software uses advanced deconvolution technology aiming to reverse the effect of blur in images. Compatible with both Windows and Mac OS, it is available at an introductory price of $29.99.

Phase One has released version 6 of its Capture One raw processing and editing software. Capture One 6 gains the ability to make local changes to images without affecting the underlying raw file, amongst other additions. Based around what the company calls 'the world's most advanced image processing engine,' it also adds keystone distortion correction that attempts to reduce perspective effects (e.g. converging verticals), without overly distorting the dimensions of the objects in the scene. These come in addition Capture One's standard organizing, browsing and conversion tools.

Nikon, SanDisk and Sony have jointly developed the specifications for a faster type of memory card. The specifications have been submitted to the Compact Flash Association with the aim of them being adopted as a future standard. The proposal uses the PCI Express interface to offer transfer rates of up to 500MB/s, rather than the 167MB/s limit of the most recent Compact Flash 6.0 standard. The proposal hope to provide a card that can cope with future requirements for bursts of RAW images and large quantities of HD footage. The Compact Flash Association has established a working group that will evaluate the proposal by the end of 2010.

Nikon Japan has announced its Speedlight SB-700 flashgun will be available from November 26 at a retail price of ¥44,100. In the US market, it will be available from mid-December at an estimated retail price of $329.95. Announced at Photokina 2010 and a replacement for the company's SB-600 flashgun, it offers a guide number of 28, wireless flash control and multi-step zoom from 24 to 120mm. It also includes a rotating head, built-in bounce card, a supplied diffuser and both incandescent and fluorescent filters.

Sony has issued a firmware update for its NEX-VG10E camcorder that enables autofocus with Alpha-mount SLR lenses equipped with SSM or SAM motors. Covering 14 lens models, AF compatibility also requires a separate update for the LA-EA1 Mount Adapter. The firmware is available now for free download from Sony's website.

Sony has announced it is to develop a professional E-mount camcorder. The as-yet-unnamed model will be available from mid-2011 as an addition to the company's NXCAM line-up of broadcast-standard camcorders. It will feature a CMOS sensor equivalent to the Super-35mm film format (which is essentially the same size as the APS-C format seen in existing E-mount cameras). It will record videos in AVCHD format with plans to implement 1080p (60p / 30p / 24p or 50p / 25p) recording in the MPEG4-AVC/H.264 format. This will be the company's second camcorder compatible with E-mount lenses, following the NEX-VG10E consumer-grade model.

Silkypix has released updated versions of its Developer Studio Pro and Basic raw conversion software. The latest versions extend RAW support to several recently released cameras including Panasonic DMC-GH2, Nikon D7000, Sony A33/A55 and Olympus E-5.