News / Other Product News

Phase One has announced Capture One Pro 7, the latest version of its image processing and workflow tool. The latest version is based around an entirely new image processing engine and gains digital asset management tools, developed from the company's experience with its Media Pro software. The software's tethered shooting option now gains live view for some DSLR models. The software will cost $299/€229 with significant discounts for upgraders from previous versions.

DxO Labs has announced DxO Optics Pro 8, a major update of its image processing tool incorporating 'DxO Smart Lighting.' The company's Smart Lighting tool influences both image brightness and contrast using a single slider and will attempt to recover both highlight and shadow detail. Meanwhile a selective tone tool makes it easy to apply different changes to the highlight, mid-tone and shadow regions of an image.The software also allows the configuration of multiple output options. It also gains more lens/body optical correction profiles, with DxO aiming to double the current 10,000 combinations by the end of 2013. The software comes with the customary introductory pricing valid until November 15th.

Industry body CEA has defined a minimum standard for '4K' video and has chosen the terms 'Ultra High-Definition' and 'Ultra HD' to describe it. The consumer electronics body, which includes most major camera makers, has concluded that devices must be capable of showing 3840 x 2160 pixel video to be classed as Ultra HD devices. Despite being a member of CEA, Sony has said it will continue to use the term 4K, and will brand its products as 4K UHD.

GoPro, the action camera maker, has refreshed its entire range, including the addition of the 4k-capable Hero 3 Black Edition. The existing Hero HD and Hero 2 models have essentially been re-housed in smaller cases with updated user interfaces and will sit alongside the Black Edition as the White and Silver Editions, respectively. The Hero 3 Black Edition can shoot at up to 3840x2160 pixels at 15 frames per second. It also has 2.7k mode (2716 horizontal pixels) at 30 or 24fps, and a Protune mode that offers higher bit-rates and a neutral color profile better suited to post-processing.

Japanese camera site DCWatch has reviewed the PQI Air Wi-Fi Micro-SD to SD adapter. The adapter features a built-in Wi-Fi transmitter but, unlike rival FlashAir or Eye-Fi cards, does not feature any internal memory of its own - instead allowing you to swap MicroSD cards in and out. The adapter communicated with smartphones via an Android or iOS app from where you can browse and download images from the camera. The system allows you to swap inexpensive standard MicroSD cards, rather than buying multiple Wi-Fi cards, also allowing you to upgrade the speed or capacity of card without having to replace the Wi-Fi component. (from DCWatch)

Visual Supply Company has announced 'VSCO Keys,' a keyboard shortcut customization tool for Adobe Lightroom 3 or 4. It aims to make working in Lightroom more efficient, but the $125 price tag (only a fraction less than Lightroom itself) is likely to limit its appeal to photographers who aren't profiting from their work. The software comes with two presets, one of which adds shortcuts without clashing with any of the software's native controls, while a more comprehensive one replaces several of them. A 14-day free trial allows you to assess the value of the efficiency savings to your workflow. (via Petapixel) Updated with lowered price (10/24/12).

DxO Labs has announced Optics Pro v7.5.5, with support for the Canon EOS-1D X and the Nikon D600. The latest version of the company's raw processing and optical correction software also adds support for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 and DMC-LX7. Support for the two full-frame DSLRs comes only in the 'Elite' edition of the software, while the Panasonic support is also included in the standard edition, that costs around half as much. As usual, the upgrade is free to existing Optics Pro 7 users and recent purchasers of Pro 6.

Alongside its ACR and Lightroom updates, Adobe has extended the specifications of the DNG format, including the creation of a more compact, Lossy DNG option. The format has also been extended to respect in-camera cropping and allow for the inclusion of full HDR data and the non-image areas around merged panoramas. We spoke to Lightroom Product Manager, Tom Hogarty, about the changes made in v1.4 and the reasons behind them.

Adobe has released the final versions of Adobe Camera Raw 7.2 and Lightroom 4.2. The latest updates bring finalized support for 21 additional cameras, including the Sony A99 and RX100, the Fujifilm X-E1 and the Canon EOS M. Lightroom gains tethering support for 11 cameras, including the Nikon D800 and Canon EOS 5D Mark III. It also adds support for 'Albums' in its uploader to the Revel service. Updates are available through the in-software update systems.

Eye-Fi has launched the Pro X2 16GB, its largest Wi-Fi SD card, and its fastest yet. The Pro X2 retains all the existing capabilities of the existing 8GB version, including upload to a smartphone, direct connection to a Wi-Fi network, auto backup and Raw file transfer. Despite the capacity and speed hike (the previous version was rated as Class 6), the Eye-Fi Pro X2 16GB retains the recommended selling price of $99.99, with existing models having $20 knocked off their prices. Customers in Australia and Japan will be next to receive the card.

Benro has announced the MeTOTO Transfunctional Travel Tripod, an travel tripod that can be converted to a monopod without tools. The latest addition to the MeFOTO range, whihc sits just below the Travel Angel series, it is available in five colors and can be converted between a 1.5m (61.6") tripod and a 1.62m (64") monopod. It folds down to 40cm (15.4") and weighs 1.6kg (3.6lbs). Despite this small size, it is rated for supporting cameras up to 8kg (17.6lbs). It features an Arca-Swiss style quick release mount and plate and includes a carry case a shoulder strap in its $229 list price. No European pricing is yet available.

Epson has developed a higher resolution, XGA version of its LCD panel used for electronic viewfinders. The latest version of the company's Ultimicron technology offers the same 2.4m dot resolution (1024 x 768 x 3) as the Sony OLED viewfinders used in recent Sony and Fujifilm cameras. SVGA (800 x 600 x 3) versions of Epson's technology are already used in the Olympus OM-D E-M5, along with add-on finders for Olympus, Ricoh and Leica cameras. This additional option for a high-resolution finder can only be positive for the next generation of mirrorless cameras.

ACD Systems has announced ACDSee Pro 6 and ACDSee 15, its image management and editing tools for Windows. Coming a year after the previous versions, the latest incarnations include a selection of tool improvements and smarter keyword handling. Both also gain improved noise reduction for working with high ISO images. On top of these, ACDSee Pro 6 gains native 64-bit support and a non-destructive adjustment brush for applying edits without affecting the underlying file, along with a list of tweaks and changes. The more basic ACDSee 15 gains color management for the first time. ACDSee Pro 6 will cost around $100 with version 15 costing half that.

Adobe has released version 11 of Photoshop Elements, its entry-level image-editing software. This latest version introduces a redesigned UI featuring a brighter background and larger type for greater readability along with easier access to commonly used tools. A Quick Edit mode offers a simplified interface for beginners while seasoned users can take advantage of new lens blur filters, tilt-shift, vignetting and contrast editing tools. It is available for $99.99, or $149.99 as a bundle with Premiere Elements 11, Adobe's video-editing software. Upgrade pricing is available for existing users.

Adobe has reported that earnings for its current quarter will remain flat or decline as customers have signed up for its Creative Cloud subscription services at a faster than expected rate. On this basis, Adobe has predicted Q4 earnings of between 53-58 cents per share on expected revenus of between $1.075 and $1.125 billion, falling shy of analysts' estimates. This reflects an expected 25,000 additional Creative Cloud subscribers. (via Reuters)

Apple has released version 1.1 of iPhoto for iOS, with support for images up to 36.5MP (on the third-generation iPad) and full resolution photo import via iTunes File Sharing. Other additions include six new Ink Effects and the ability to create tag albums by adding custom tags to photos. You can upload video to Facebook and set location and friend tags. iPhoto for iOS v1.1 requires iOS6 and is free to existing v1 users or can be purchased for $4.99 from Apple's App Store.

Bag maker Think Tank has announced two new products. The Airport Navigator is a rolling pilot's case that allows access to your gear from both the top and front. It is designed to hold two pro-size bodies and three to six lenses, two flash units, an iPad and laptop. The company has also announced a new line of CityWalker messenger-style shoulder bags. These come in three sizes, each capable of holding a standard-size camera body and medium range zoom. Both the Airport Navigator and CityWalker bags are to be released in November.

Google has acquired Nik Software, the San Diego-based maker of standalone and plug-in image editing tools. While Nik has a wide portfolio of products for photographers, industry insiders agree that the impetus behind the move was to acquire Snapseed, Nik's mobile image editing and sharing app. In light of Facebook's earlier acquisition of the highly popular Instagram app, the acquisition of one of its rivals is seen as an effort to make Google+ more attractive to mobile photographers. Financial terms have not been disclosed but Google's Senior Vice President of Engineering has stated the company's committment to Nik's plugins and high-end software.

Lexar has announced its Professional 256GB SDXC UHS-I memory card, offering the industry's highest storage capacity to date in an SDXC card. In addition to providing longer recording times for HD video capture, the Class 10 card offers a guaranteed read speed of 60MB/s, enabling faster transfers of video files and high resolution images to a computer. It will become available in October with a retail price of  $899.99 in the US and £670.99 in the UK.

Photokina 2012: Sony has announced the NEX-VG900, a full-frame NEX camcorder along with the VG30 APS-C model and an 18-200mm powerzoom lens for APS-C E-mount cameras. The VG900 is built around the company's 24MP sensor that also appears in the SLT A99 and RX1 and confirms the theory that the E-mount can accommodate a 36x24mm sensor. The lack of full-frame E-mount lenses means the VG900 must be used with an adapter such as the LA-EA3 which allows the use of full-frame A-mount lenses. The SELP-18200 E PZ 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 adds a third 18-200mm lens to the NEX system, this time with a lever-controlled powered zoom for video work. The VG900 will sell for around $3,300 with A-mount adapter, the VG30 will cost $2,700 with 18-200mm or $1,800 body-only.