News / Other Product News

DxO Labs has released version 8.1.3 of its DxO Optics Pro software. The Elite edition extends support to the Leica M-E, M9, and M9-P rangefinders. Both the Elite and Standard versions gain Nikon D5200, Panasonic DMC-FZ200, and Canon SX50 HS support. The update also adds 260 lens and cameras combinations for Canon, Leica, Panasonic, Sigma, Sony, Tamron, Tokina, and Zeiss users. These modules join the existing list of over 10,000 combinations.

Visual Supply Company has released the VSCO Film 03 camera profiles and film emulation preset pack for Adobe Lightroom 4 and Camera Raw 7. The software comes with customized camera profiles for Fujifilm, Canon and Nikon image files and allows native non-destructive editing of desired film effects within Lightroom and ACR. The latest version includes a toolkit to achieve an 'authentic instant film' look. Version 03 is currently available for immediate download at a retail price of $119 (~ £75/ €90) from the company's website.

Epson has announced the VS320 and VS220 budget projectors offering SVGA and XGA resolutions respectively. Both the lightweight models deliver 2700 lumens of color and white brightness and include features such as USB Plug ‘n Play, 3 inch LCDs and HDMI connectivity. The projectors are available at retail prices of $429 and $359 respectively.

Apple has added Raw support to its OS-X operating system for nine additional cameras, including Nikon's D5200, Pentax K-5 II/IIs and Sony's DSC-RX1. Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update v4.04 also brings Leica X2, D-Lux 6 and V-Lux 4 support to Aperture and iPhoto. The update requires Aperture v3.4 or later and iPhoto version 9.4 or later. Click through for the complete list of cameras and download link.

CP+ 2013: Pentax has shown two prototype products at the CP+ 2013 trade show in Japan: a bounce flash and a body cap lens for the Q-system. The flash is tentatively named the AF360FGZ II and has a guide number of 36, vertical and horizontal bounce capability, and is expected to ship this Summer. The 'Mount Cap Lens' is limited to the Q-mount camera line, and includes what appears to be a small hyper-focal lens which Pentax says will produce a 'toy-camera-like visual effect,' and is also expected this Summer 2013.

Chinese software company LZeal has announced ezShare - a Wi-Fi SDHC card with an on/off switch to reduce power consumption in cameras without menu options to control such cards. When the wireless function is turned on, images can be accessed via a web browser, suggesting it offers an HTTP server, like Toshiba's FlashAir cards. There are also dedicated apps for smartphones and tablets. The Class 10 SD cards are available in 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB capacities. Prices and availability information to be confirmed.

Think Tank Photo has announced the Sub Urban Disguise series of camera shoulder bags, to be available in February. These bags feature flip-top lids that open away from your body, front organizer pockets, stretchable side pockets and will be available in four sizes. The company has also announced an updated version of its Change-Up multi-function camera bag scheduled to be available around the same time. Prices and availability information to be confirmed.

X-Rite has released i1Profiler v1.4, an update of its color management software for Mac and Windows, to include scanner profiling. The update also extends support to Mac 10.8x and Windows 8 and includes other improvements as well. Version 1.4 is available for immediate download from the company's website.

Giottos has announced a range of tripods that use a unique 'Y'-shaped centre column profile to offer a more compact folded package. The 'Silk Road YTL series' replaces the existing MTL range in its entirety, and according to Giottos offers a 30% space saving without any sacifice in stability or weight capacity. The range includes 12 models offering 3- or 4-section legs, conventional 2-way or tilting centre columns, and weight capacities from 5 to 10 kg. They'll be on sale from mid-January, with at prices starting from £100 for aluminium, or £220 for carbon fibre models. 

DxO Labs has released the latest version of its DxO Optics Pro software, with more than 10,000 camera and lens correction combinations now supported. The latest version, v8.1.2 or the more expensive Elite edition adds support for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 full-frame, fixed-lens camera as well as Canon's EOS 6D. Meanwhile both the Elite and Standard versions gain support for the Nikon 1 V2. With this release DxO has achieved its stated target of offering 10,000 optics modules. Both editions are available with a 33% discount until the end of January 2013.

Specialist accessory manufacturer Metabones and optics company Caldwell Photographics have jointly announced the 'Speed Booster', a lens adapter for mounting SLR lenses on APS-C and Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras that reduces the focal length by a factor of 0.71x and increases the maximum aperture by 1 stop. The Speed Booster also promises sharper images compared to using the lens with a simple adapter. The first version will allow use of Canon EF lenses on Sony NEX bodies, and will be available this month from Metabones' web site for US$599. Support for additional lens mounts (including Nikon F) and camera systems (including Fujifilm X and Micro Four Thirds) is also planned.

CES 2013: Nikon US has announced a radio-frequency camera triggering system compatible with all its current DSLRs. The WR-10 system works over a 60m range and, unlike the current infrared system, does not require a line-of-sight between the trigger and the camera. Users of mass-market Nikons (D600 and below) can use the WR-T10 transmitter to focus or fire cameras with WR-R10 receivers attached to them. Owners of pro-grade DSLRs with 10-pin connectors can use the WR-A10 adapter to connect the R10 to their camera. This combination allows the camera to act as a host that can remotely trigger up to 64 other cameras.

DxO Labs has updated its DxO Optics Pro software to version 8.1.1 with the addition of support for the Sony SLT-A99, Canon EOS M, Pentax K-5 II and K-5 IIs. The latest update also includes over 300 additional camera/lens correction modules. The update is free for Optics Pro 8 users and is available immediately. New users can purchase the latest version with a 33% discount until December 25, 2012.

Adobe has released Photoshop Lightroom 4.3 and Adobe Camera Raw 7.3. These are final versions of updates that were originally posted as 'release candidates' on the Adobe Labs site, and are available for immediate download. The latest versions provide RAW support for 13 additional cameras, including the Canon EOS 6D, Nikon D5200 and Sony DSC-RX1. The Mac version of Lightroom features a Develop module that supports Apple's HiDPI mode, that makes the interface easier to read on the 'Retina' panels used on recent Macs. 

Microsoft has released an updated version of its Camera Codec Pack for Windows Vista, 7, 8 and RT. The latest update allows applications such as Windows Explorer, Windows Photo Viewer, Media Center, and Windows Photo Gallery to deal with Raw files from 34 additional cameras. The cameras include the Canon EOS M, Olympus OM-D E-M5 and Sony NEX-7.

Adobe has announced CS6 updates that are exclusive to Creative Cloud subscribers. Adobe Photoshop 13.1 offers among other things, the ability to apply Liquify and Lens Blur effects as Smart Objects and use conditional statements when creating Actions. However, these changes are unavailable to those who've bought traditional versions of Photoshop CS6, and Adobe has not said when, or even if, 'perpetual users' of CS6 will have access to these features. Retina Display support for Mac, also announced today, is available for all users.

DxO Labs has announced version 1.1 of its ViewPoint distortion correction software, promising more accurate tools and faster operation. Viewpoint is designed to correct keystone distortions (converging verticals and horizontals), and restore more natural proportions to objects towards the edge of the frame when using wide-angle lenses. It is available either as a stand-alone tool or as a plugin for Adobe PhotoShop (CS3 or newer) or Lightroom (version 3 or newer), and for both Mac and PC.

Adapter and accessory maker Fotodiox has announced two adapters to enable the use of filters with wide-angle lenses that have large convex front elements. The WonderPana Filter systems are based around adapter hoods that allow 145mm circular filters or 6.6" rectangular filters to be used, via an adapter. Each system comes with a lens cap that mounts on the hood, allowing the lens to be stored and protected without needing to repeatedly remove the adapter hood. A variety of adapter and filter kits are available for a range of Super-wide and Ultra-wide lenses.

Canon has added three wireless Pixma photo printers and a CanoScan photo scanner to its imaging products range. The Pixma MG6320 (MG6350 in Europe) and MG5420 (MG5450 in Europe) are wireless photo all-in-ones (combined scanner/printers)while the Pixma iP7220 (iP7250) is a standalone wireless photo printer. The MG5420 and iP7220 are five ink printers (CMYK plus pigment black), while the MG6320 adds a grey ink. All three printers can be used to print wirelessly from Canon's latest Wi-Fi models such as the PowerShot S110 and EOS 6D. The CanonScan 9000F Mark II is a standalone scanner with film adapter, allowing film to be scanned at up to 9600 x 9600dpi.

MindShift Gear, a bag brand co-founded by Think Tank Photo, has announced a project to fund its first bag - the Rotation180° - on crowd-funding website Kickstarter. The Rotation180° appears to build on Think Tank's Rotation360° concept, giving access to your camera without having to take the bag off, but adds outdoor-friendly features such as a pocket for a hydration pack and full weather cover. The project requires a $389 pledge to receive the Rotation180° bag, with another $100 bringing more accessories.