News / Other Product News

Adobe has announced an update to Revel, its cloud-based storage, editing and browsing service. Available as an app for Mac users and iOS device owners, version 1.5 offers the ability to organize your pictures into photo abums and share these privately with friends and family online in galleries hosted by Adobe. Images can now be captioned and the updated UI includes a 'Library' grid view for easier image browsing. Subscription pricing for the service remains at US $5.99 per month. Revel software is available in Apple's Mac and App Stores.

Korean accessory maker Gariz has introduced a leather half-case for the Sony RX100. Setting it apart from the other examples on the market is its metal base plate. This not only allows the attachment of the company's 'Gun Shot' strap system but also repositions the tripod mount into line with the lens's optical axis. The cases can be bought directly from the company, though it's not clear what additional shipping costs will add to the Korean price of 76,000 Won (around $67). (From DCWatch)

Metabones has announced an updated version of its Canon EF adapter for Sony NEX E-mount. The second version of the Smart Adapter will feature a screw-on Arca Swiss-style tripod mount, improved anti-reflection shieding and a mode that releases the aperture and stops image stabilization to reduce battery consumption. As with the original version, the Second Edition Smart Adapter offers aperture control, image stabilization and EXIF reporting compatibility with most EF and EF-S lenses. It will be available from August 2012 at the same $400 list price as the existing version.

Chinese accessory manufacturer Kipon says it has developed mount adapters to use Canon EOS lenses on Micro Four Thirds and Sony NEX bodies with full electronic control of the aperture setting. There's no word on whether other functions such as image stabilization or autofocus have any chance of working, and as yet Kipon is only showing unfinished-looking examples on its website. There's also no information on availabililty or pricing, but we'd expect it to be very competitive. 

Accessory maker Richard Franiec has unveiled his design for a custom grip for the Sony RX100. As usual for one of Franiec's grips, the anodized aluminium accessory is held in place with 3M VHB tape, which holds it firmly in place but can be removed, without damage, later. The design follows the pattern of his existing grips and doesn't protrude beyond the camera's retracted lens barrel, so that pocketability isn't reduced. The grip will be available from August 2012 at a cost of $34.95, plus shipping.

ACD Systems has announced updates bringing support for 14 additional cameras to ACDSee Pro 5 and ACDSee 14 for Windows. ACDSee Pro v5.3 and ACDSee v14.3 both gain support for recent cameras such as the Nikon D800, Olympus OM-D E-M5, Canon PowerShot G1 X, Sony Alpha SLT-A57 and Pentax K-01. The latest builds, featuring the expanded Raw format support can be downloaded from ACD Systems' website now.

Fujifilm has published a brochure giving more details of the lenses and accessories it has planned for the X-Pro1 and and any future X-system cameras. The brochure gives more details about the forthcoming XF lenses previously included on the company's lens roadmap, including images and specifications for the XF 14mm F2.8 R and XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 OIS. A revised version of the lens roadmap also includes ghosted images of the promised 23mm and 27mm lenses. It also reveals that the XF 14mm will have a focus distance scale - suggesting it may eschew the system's troubled focus-by-wire system.

Memory card maker Lexar has announced it will start to offer XQD format cards later this year. The company says the cards will support the Nikon D4 and 'future XQD-based camera models,' and will be available from the third quarter of 2012. The XQD format was developed by companies including Sony and has been promoted through the Compact Flash Association. Despite this, Nikon is the only camera maker to have made use of the format so far. The format's popularity is likely to be defined by the level of manufacturer support seen at the forthcoming Photokina trade show in Cologne, Germany, this September, around which major models are usually launched.

DxO Labs has released DxO Optics Pro v7.5.2, with this latest update adding support for the Olympus OM-D E-M5 and Panasonic DMC-GF5. The addition means the software can now process files from all Panasonic's Micro Four Thirds cameras. In addition, v7.5.2 brings support for Panasonic's CMOS-based DMC-FZ150 superzoom. As usual, a 30-day free trial is available and the update is free for all Optics Pro 7 customers and anyone who bought Optics Pro 6 after September 1st 2011.

Canon has announced three lower-end Pixma all-in-one printer/scanners - the MG4220, MG3220 and MG2220. All three are capable of 4800 x1200 dpi printing at up to 5 pages per minute (ISO) and scanning at 1200 x 2400 dpi. The MG4220 includes an integrated SD/MS card reader and 2.5" LCD screen, and is Wi-Fi compatible. The MG3220 keeps the Wi-Fi capability but loses the card reader and screen. Like the 4220, it can be used with both the Google Cloud Print service and Apple's AirPrint system. Finally, the MG2220 is a low-cost, non-Wi-Fi model. The models will sell for around $130, $80 and $70 respectively. No equivalent models have yet been announced for Europe.

Canon has unveiled the Selphy CP900, a Wi-Fi-enabled dye-sub compact photo printer. The CP900 can print borderless 4x6" photos in as little as 47 seconds. The built-in screen and control interface allows you to browse computers on the same Wi-Fi network to locate your images. There are also iOS and Android apps that allow direct printing to the CP900. In addition to it Wi-Fi capabilities, the CP900 is also smaller and lighter than the existing CP800 model. An equivalent model has not been announced for Europe (though a non-Wi-Fi CP810 variant exists). The CP900 will cost around $100.

Nik Software has announced HDR Efex Pro 2, an update of its high dynamic range software package. The latest version features a range of updates, including an improved tone-mapping engine that promises better color rendering. The user interface and workflow have also been re-worked to make the process simpler, with a host of features added to provide increased control and image quality. HDR Efex Pro 2 will cost $99.95/€99.95, with upgrades around half that price and free upgrades for customers who bought version 1 after June 9th.

Sony has launched second-generation 'S' series XQD memory cards capable of sustained read-write speeds of 168MB/s, making them the fastest cards of any format. A 64Gb card will be available from July 2012, with a 128Gb version following in September/October. Sony talks about sports photographers achieving their best performances this summer - suggesting the company isn't an Olympic sponsor and hence isn't allowed to associate itself with the games. Prices have not been announced.

Apple has issued a Raw Compatibility Update that includes support for Canon's Rebel T4i (EOS 650D) and the Sony SLT-A37. The update provides support in iPhoto, Aperture and third-party software such as ACDSee Pro2 that uses the operating system's Raw decoding. Raw Compatibility Update v3.14 is available from the Apple website immediately.

DxO Labs has released DxO Optics Pro v7.5.1, adding support for four extra cameras to both the Elite and Standard editions of the software. The Elite edition also gains support for the Nikon D800E, with fine-tuning to optimize the performance of the Remove color moiré tool. Both versions can now also process files from the Nikon D3200, Sony SLT A35 and A57, and the Panasonic DMC-GX1. As usual, a 30-day free trial is available, along with roughly 40% discounts available if purchased before June 30th. The update is free for recent Optics Pro purchasers.

ACD Systems has launched ACDSee Pro 2 for Mac, a combined file management, photo editing and workflow tool. The latest version is designed to make handling and processing large numbers of files as simple as possible - with shortcuts provided to allow your existing workflow to be sped up, rather than imposing a new way of working on you. These include the ability to create import presets that rename, move and apply metadata as you add them. There's also full integration with the company's online storage and sharing service, which includes 10Gb of storage in the $139 price tag.

Apple has announced Aperture v3.3, which features a series of updates including sharing its catalogue with the simpler iPhoto program that comes with iOS. Other improvements include support for AVCHD video, a revised Highlight & Shadows tool and more sophisticated white balance options. The software has also been designed to make use of the MacBook Pro's 'Retina' display. Aperture v3.3 is free to existing v3 users or can be bought for $79.99 from the Mac App Store.

Corel has announced Service Pack 2 for PaintShop Pro X4, the company's photo editing solution. With this update Corel has added bug fixes, Raw file support for 18 additional cameras and improved support for PSD files. Click through for a link to the download and a full list of the newly supported cameras.

Woven, a free app for iOS, Android, Kindle Fire and Nook allows you to browse all of your photos from services such as Flickr, Facebook, Picasa and Smugmug in a single place. Once you've logged into each of the services, through the app, it downloads thumbnail versions to your mobile device, allowing you to scan through all your pictures. The app maintains the folder or grouping structures from each service, so you can easily find images and work out where you uploaded them to, even when you're offline.

Adobe has launched final versions of Photoshop Lightroom v4.1 and Adobe Camera Raw v7.1 that include support for the Fujifilm X-Pro1. Both versions include the advanced defringing tools introduced in the Release Candidate versions they replace as well as promising to address 'performance issues.' Both versions include support for the Fujifilm X-Pro1 non-Bayer color filter array. They can be downloaded from the Adobe website now. Adobe Camera Raw 7.1 works with Photoshop CS6.