Canon releases 600EX-RT radio-controlled Speedlite with other accessories

Canon today extends its range of acclaimed accessories, unveiling a number of new models designed to offer enhanced flexibility and new creative control to its professional and mid-range EOS Digital SLRs.

Sitting at the top of Canon's range, the Speedlite 600EX-RT is Canon's first flash unit to feature inbuilt wireless radio connectivity and replaces the advanced Speedlite 580EX II. Partnering with the new Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT , this new model offers enhanced opportunities for photographers wishing to explore creative lighting techniques. In addition, Canon is also launching the BG-E11 battery grip, Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E7 and GPS Receiver GP-E2, which complement the newly-announced EOS 5D Mark III – offering increased versatility across a range of shooting situations – from studio portraits to field-based shoots – with a compact lightweight and affordable configuration.

Speedlite 600EX-RT: Taking creative flash further

The Speedlite 600EX-RT is a high-performance TTL flash unit designed to meet the expanding creative needs of modern professionals. Integrated radio frequency triggering, in addition to standard infra-red wireless flash control, allows photographers to achieve exciting results with complex on-and-off-camera lighting set- ups. Using one master 600EX-RT or the new ST-E3-RT radio-frequency wireless Speedlite transmitter, up to 15x 600EX-RT flash units, positioned up to 30m away, can be remotely triggered – offering great potential to experiment with more creative lighting techniques and effects. EOS cameras with a connected Speedlite 600EX-RT can also be triggered remotely by either model, allowing photographers to explore more extreme shooting angles to produce surprising and inspiring creative results.

Subjects over a wide range of distances can be lit creatively or evenly exposed, thanks to an increased guide number of 60m*1 and wide lens coverage of 20 – 200m. For wide- angle shots, a diffuser adapter can also reduce the focal length to 14mm and the bounce-and-swivel flash head creates more flattering, shadowless effects. Ideal for shooting portraits, a catch-light panel produces natural catch-lights in the eyes of a subject when shooting with bounce flash. Additionally, custom flash coverage options provide more creative scope by using guide number priority to light the subject, while creating slightly darker edges to the frame.

Like its predecessor, the Speedlite 600EX-RT communicates white balance settings to the camera through the hot shoe connection. However, to further balance flash and ambient light, a new colour filter adapter and two supplied colour gels can be fitted to balance the temperature of the flash and create a more natural effect when shooting around tungsten or mercury lighting. When shooting in dark conditions, photographers can also employ the AF-assist beam for accurate autofocus with lenses of 28mm or longer, ensuring the subject remains in focus when the flash fires.

Designed for professionals, the Speedlite 600EX-RT and Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT feature a robust, weatherproof design matching that of the EOS-1D X, with a clear LCD display making it easy to select settings and switch between normal flash mode and wireless modes. Powered by four AA/LR6 batteries for added convenience, the Speedlite 600EX-RT offers fast, silent recycle times, allowing photographers to keep shooting and exploring creative lighting effects in all conditions.

WFT-E7: High-speed wireless control

The WFT-E7 is a new wireless file transmitter for a wide range of EOS models. For those who need to transfer their images quickly and easily, for example, photojournalists or sports photographers, the new WFT-E7 provides enhanced versatility through high- speed Wi-Fi and support for wired connectivity over Gigabit Ethernet. Featuring 802.11a/b/g/n support for file transfer speeds of up to 150mbps, and Bluetooth for linking to external GPS units, the WFT-E7 offers super-fast image transfer direct to an FTP server or even to a DLNA*2-enabled HDTV.

When creative shoots or harsh conditions require the photographer to control the camera from a distance, the WFT Server function of the WFT-E7 allows the camera settings and the scene framed in the viewfinder to be accessed and controlled through a web page on any internet-enabled device, such as smartphones, tablets or laptops. Camera settings can also be changed remotely via EOS Utility, allowing photographers to control and trigger the camera over a wired or wireless LAN connection.

The WFT-E7 has a lightweight design and can be attached to the bottom of the camera, to the new bracket AB-E1 or even to the strap. For added versatility, it also supports Linked shooting with up to ten other cameras, with Wireless Time syncing ensuring that the time across all slave devices is aligned with the master camera in order to maintain consistency across multiple units. During Linked shooting, the WFT server function can also be activated to allow easy remote access to the master and slave cameras for even greater creative control of lighting effects during multi-camera shoots.

GP-E2: Geo-tag your images with compact, lightweight GPS

Also launching today is the GPS receiver GP-E2 – a new compact, lightweight, high- performance hot shoe GPS unit which makes it easy for photographers to geo-tag their images. Compatible with the EOS-1D X, EOS 7D*3 and new EOS 5D Mark III, the GP-E2 tags photos with longitude, latitude and altitude data as well as the direction in which the shot was taken, adding information to the EXIF file of the image.

A GPS Logger function also allows photographers to track their route by downloading GPS data at regular intervals, whether the unit is attached to the camera body or stored in its case. Once back in the studio, photographers can tag their images with the GPS data stored in the log files and their route can be displayed using Google Maps or the bundled Map Utility software.

For improved accuracy and precision when recording the time of image capture, photographers can also synchronise the clocks of their cameras with the global atomic clock via UTC information downloaded from the satellite. This is particularly useful for professional photographers shooting with multiple EOS 5D Mark III bodies, who may wish to process all the images together and sort them according to the time each was recorded.

BG-E11: Improved handling for the EOS 5D Mark III

For photographers who want to shoot for longer with the EOS 5D Mark III, the new ergonomic battery grip BG-E11, doubles the battery life with two additional LP-E6 batteries, with the added flexibility of using AA batteries as an emergency back-up. For those who frequently shoot vertically, such as sports or portrait photographers, duplicate AF start, Focus point and AE-lock controls in addition to a second

Multi Controller and Control Dial make shooting vertically more comfortable and intuitive.

In keeping with the premium design of the EOS 5D Mark III, the BG-E11 is made of durable magnesium alloy and offers the same high standard of weather-proofing – ideal for harsher shooting environments.

Speedlite 600EX-RT Key features

• Guide number 60 (m, ISO 100, at 200mm)

• Radio triggering with 30m range

• Use up to 15 units together

• Infra-red wireless functionality

• Remote camera triggering

• Bounce-and-swivel head with zoom control

• White-balance correction filters

• Fast, quiet recycling

Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT Key features

• Radio frequency remote flash trigger.

• Fire selected Speedlites from 30m away.

• Controls up to 15 flashguns.

• Remote camera triggering.

• Weather sealed against dust and moisture.

Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E7 Key features

• Supports IEEE 802.11n

• Built in Bluetooth

• Versatile design

• Easy Wi-Fi protected Setup

• FTP server transfer

• Remote control functions

• DLNA media server compatible

• Linked shooting

GPS Receiver GP-E2 Key features

• Hotshoe-mounted GPS unit for compatible EOS cameras.

• Embeds location and altitude data into each file's metadata.

• Digital compass records heading information.

• Data logging mode.

• Portable design, powered by 1xAA battery.

• Accurately set camera's time using UTC time.

BG-E11 Key features

• Improved handling for EOS 5D Mark III

• Duplicate controls for vertical shooting.

• Larger grip for bigger hands.

• Use two LP-E6 batteries, or four AA/LR6 cells as an alternative.

*1 ISO 100 at 200mm setting

*2 Digital Living Network Alliance

*3 Via firmware update – connection via cable only

Adobe announces Photoshop Elements 9

Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 9 software for Windows® and Mac, offering a complete photo solution to anyone who wants to organize, edit, create and share extraordinary photos. With the newest version of the No. 1 selling consumer photo-editing software, Adobe delivers powerful new technology to equip every consumer with the ability to achieve professional results easily and quickly.

“The Photoshop brand has been creating groundbreaking imaging magic for 20 years, and Photoshop Elements has been making that magic accessible to mere mortals for nearly a decade,” said Kevin Connor, vice president of product management for Digital Imaging, Adobe. “The Content Aware Fill technology introduced with Photoshop CS5 is one of our most exciting innovations ever, so we’re thrilled to be able to make it accessible to photo and video enthusiasts in this latest Elements release.”

Image Intelligence for Easy Editing

Photoshop Elements 9 uses powerful technology to make even the most complex results achievable for anyone. Adapted from Photoshop CS5’s celebrated Content Aware Fill feature, the content intelligence in the Spot Healing Brush analyzes what’s in the image and quickly de-clutters or repairs photos (like removing tourists from a crowded scene or an obstruction, such as a telephone pole) with a swipe of a brush, magically filling in the background. The same content intelligence synthesizes missing pixel information to create a stunning panorama from multiple photos, without leaving any gaps or blank spaces.

In addition, the new Photomerge Style Match turns drab photos dramatic by analyzing characteristics of any photo, such as contrast or color tone, and automatically applies those qualities to another photo, allowing users to easily replicate any photo style. Several new Guided Edit options walk users step-by-step through the process of achieving cool editing effects such as Out of Bounds, making an element of a photo appear to leap off the page in 3D, creating pop art masterpieces, or retouching made easy via the perfect portraits feature. In addition, users now have access to Layer Masks for compositing richly layered photos.

Organization Made Easy

For the first time, the popular Photoshop Elements Organizer is available on both the Windows and Mac platform, to help users quickly organize, find and display photo and video clips from one convenient location. The Auto-Analyzer takes the work out of finding the best shots by automatically searching a user’s collection of photos and assigning a tag based on quality, such as lighting, focus or contrast. People Recognition also automatically creates People tags, so you can find your favorite people fast and it becomes more intelligent over time as it learns to associate specific faces with names.

Sharing Photos Virtually Anywhere

After users make their photos look better than ever, they have various sharing options, including posting photos directly to Facebook or creating one-of-a-kind interactive Online Albums with animated templates. In addition, users can share their memories with personalized photo creations like scrapbook pages, photo books, calendars and cards that can easily be printed from home or via online print service providers. The flexible photo creation workspace allows users complete control over how they design their photo books, by automatically placing photos within a template or providing access to any Photoshop Elements editing feature from directly within the layout mode.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 Plus

For added convenience, now Photoshop Elements 9 Windows and Mac users have the option to purchase Plus, which offers 20GB of storage for automatic online backup and sharing (up to 15,000 photos or four hours of DVD-quality video), as well as ongoing deliveries of new tutorials, artwork and interactive online templates sent directly to the desktop software. A benefit to all Photoshop Elements users is virtually anywhere access to photos and videos online or via select mobile devices at Photoshop.com.

Pricing and Availability

Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 for Windows and Mac is available now at www.adobe.com, and will also be available soon at retail outlets such as Amazon.com, Apple (Mac only), Best Buy, Costco, Fry’s, New Egg, Office Depot, Office Max and Walmart. Photoshop Elements 9 Windows and Mac is available for a suggested retail price of US$99.99, and users can purchase Plus from within the product for US$49.99/year. Plus is available in the U.S. only.

Information about other language versions, as well as pricing, upgrade and support policies for other countries is available at www.adobe.com/go/photoshopelements. For free training videos on Photoshop Elements, visit Adobe TV at http://tv.adobe.com.

Nikon releases Speedlight SB-700 flashgun

Nikon today is pleased to announce a new Speedlight – the SB-700. Packed with features, this is an easy-to-use, yet sophisticated flash in a compact body. It will be a welcome addition to anyone looking to develop their lighting skills and explore the options of the Nikon Creative Lighting system.

Zurab Kiknadze, Product Manager Lenses, Accessories and Software, Nikon Europe BV says: “SB-700 offers users the opportunity to expand their creative potential beyond the built-in camera flash. It integrates flawlessly with Nikon’s DSLR cameras, taking advantage of i-TTL to provide optimal results with minimum of effort.”

Inheriting the advanced features of the professional SB-900 flash, the new flash also boasts an intuitive interface and easy-to-understand operating system. It features Nikon’s i-TTL, through-the-lens metering system, ensuring accurate light measuring as well as multi-step auto zoom, which automatically detects the lens focal length and adjusts the flash output accordingly for angles of view from 24mm to 120mm.

Users have the choice of three illumination patterns, which can be quickly selected to match different shooting scenarios. The high performance Speedlight is ideal for a wide range of applications, from portrait and studio to events and night-time photography.

Built for versatility

The SB-700 is compatible with FX and DX cameras and its fast wireless control will make the flash attractive for a wide range of customers, including advanced photographers seeking to extend their Creative Lighting System. It can act as a master, controlling up to two groups of flashes and their light ratios, and can also act as a remote unit in a flash set up.

With its rotating head and built-in bounce card, the photographer can use the flash to direct the light and bounce it off ceilings or walls. The SB-700 also comes with the practical Nikon Diffusion Dome to soften the light and even the shadows of direct flash.

The flash has a mounting foot lock lever, through which the flash can be securely attached to the camera, preventing it from coming loose. There is also an optional weather-sealed mount available for outdoor photography.

Major features:

• The new, improved LCD panel interface and an intuitive layout of switches make it quick and easy to set the features.
• With a maximum guide number of 38 (for an FX camera, at the standard illumination setting at ISO 100 at 120mm) the flash is powerful and versatile to suit most lighting conditions.
• The multi-step power zoom automatically responds to the current focal length of the lens attached to the camera and covers angles of view, ranging from 24mm to 120mm.
• Three illumination patterns can quickly be selected to match each shooting situation, making it the ideal flash for a range of scenarios. The Centre-weighted pattern offers more power and higher guide number which highlights the subject from its surroundings. The Even setting works well for indoor group shots or a flat surface whilst the Standard setting has a slight emphasis on the centre.
• The high-speed recycling time is only approximately 2.5 seconds with NiMH batteries and alkaline batteries and approximately 3.5 seconds with lithium batteries.
• The quick wireless control mode allows the user to change the light ratios of A and B group Speedlight units and can also act as a remote unit in the Nikon Creative Lighting System.
• The SB-700 automatically detects flash head heat and delays the recycling time if the temperature of the flash head rises, protecting the flash from heat damage.
• The firmware of the flash can easily be updated through Nikon DSLR cameras.
• The SB-700 comes with fluorescent and incandescent hard, plastic-type colour filters, which are more durable, heat-resistant and easier to use than the conventional film-type filters. The flash automatically detects these two hard-type colour filters and instructs the camera to set the optimum colour temperature. The optional colour filter set SJ-4 is also available.

Price and availability

The new Nikon SB-700 Speedlight is scheduled to be available in mid-November 2010, and will have an MSRP of USD329.95. The SB-700 will come bundled with the Speedlight Stand, Bounce Adapter, Color Filter Holder, Intelligent Color Filter Kit, Diffuser Dome and soft case.

EOS MOVIE plug-in update for Final Cut Pro

Canon today announces a new plug-in further enhancing quicker and easier editing of EOS MOVIE footage in Apple’s software suite, Final Cut Pro. The update will be available to download for free from mid-September.

EOS Movie Plug-in-E1 for Final Cut Pro version 1.1 will add to the recently released Plug-in-E1 by providing support for the Canon EOS 60D, the latest addition to the EOS range. The plug-in will allow users to view metadata and EXIF data for movie files. It will also provide support for multi-core processing, allowing even faster conversations with the latest generation of Macs.

The original plug-in was designed to convert EOS MOVIE footage from Canon’s EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 7D and EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR cameras to Apple’s high-quality ProRes 422 codec at approximately twice the speed of Apple’s standard conversion. Users will still have the benefits of being able to add timecode and reel names to footage quickly and easily.

Click HERE for more information and to download v1.1 of EOS E1 plug-in

Canon announces EF Extender 1.4x III and EF Extender 2x III

Canon today unveils two lens extenders designed for its L-series range of new super-telephoto lenses. Designed for photojournalists, nature and sports photographers who need to get close to distant and challenging subjects, the Extender EF 1.4x III and Extender EF 2x III increase the focal length of a lens by a factor of 1.4x and 2x respectively while still delivering superb image quality. To ensure the best possible image quality in all shooting conditions, they also combine enhanced environmental protection, redesigned optics and improved data communication between lens and camera.

Canon professional image quality

Allowing professional photographers to shoot distant subjects without having to carry a number of heavy lenses with them, these new extenders ensure there is no compromise on image quality. The Extender EF 1.4x III features three lens groups of seven elements, and the Extender EF 2x III features three groups of nine elements, ensuring improved optical performance. All optical elements use Canon’s Super Spectra coating, reducing ghosting and flare to minimise post-processing requirements. A new Fluorine Coating on the front and rear elements makes marks, such as spots left by water or fingerprints, much easier to clean than standard coatings.

To facilitate the accurate transfer of imaging data between the lens and camera body, both models feature an integrated processor which ensures all focusing, metering and ID information is available – allowing the photographer to capture crisp, well-exposed images. When combined with the latest range of premium Canon L-series lenses, these extenders enable higher AF accuracy compared to previous generations, ensuring professionals achieve perfectly sharp shots, even when capturing moving subjects.

Redesigned for high performance

The Extender EF 1.4x III and Extender EF 2x III have been designed to complement the latest range of L-series lenses, matching their appearance and offering a visible differentiation from previous models. A carefully positioned lens release mechanism also makes it easy to mount the extenders quickly, reducing the time that the camera and lens are exposed to the environment. The extenders offer the exceptional build-quality expected from Canon’s professional products, and are resistant to both dust and water, allowing photographers to use them in extreme shooting conditions.

For convenient transport, the 225g Extender EF 1.4x III and 325g Extender EF 2x III are supplied with a soft case (LP811) and Extender Cap EII.

THK Photo Product, Inc announces the new HOYA PRO1 Digital ND16 Neutral Density filter

The ND16 is a dark neutral density filter with a filter factor of 16, meaning there is 4 stop light loss. This is a great filters for slowing down shutter speeds to capture motion. An example: In daylight, maybe the slowest shutter speed possible without a filter could be 1/60 sec at F/22 By adding the HOYA PRO1 ND16, a shutter speed of 1/4 sec would be possible.

Another use of the ND16 would be controlling depth of field. With a strong ND16, a much wider aperture can be used. Wide apertures like F/1.4 and F1.8 create a very shallow depth of field and have the effect of isolating the subject from the background. Creative possibilities are endless with this type of filter.

The HOYA PRO1 Digital ND16 has all the features of the PRO1 Digital series.

Apple Aperture 3.0.3 Update

Apple has updated Aperture 3 to version 3.0.3, which is intended to improve stability and fix a number of issues, including the following areas:

• Applying adjustments such as Retouch or Chromatic Aberration
• Creating and using Raw Fine Tuning presets
• Viewing, adding and removing detected faces
• Switching target printers and paper sizes when printing
• Duplicating Smart Albums
• Repairing and rebuilding Aperture libraries
• Reconnecting referenced files
• Working with GPS track files in Places
• Searching for keywords in the Query HUD or Keyword Controls

Complete release notes on the fixes are available on Apple’s website HERE. Aperture 3.0.3 is available for download from Apple’s website HERE.

Apple releases RAW compatibility update

Apple has released a Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update for Aperture 3 and iPhoto '09. Update 3.2 addresses processing issues of files from the Canon EOS 30D, Pentax K-x and K-7 digital SLRs. The update also extends RAW support to the following cameras:

• Canon EOS Rebel T2i / 550D / Kiss X4
• Leica S2
• Olympus E-450
• Olympus E-600
• Olympus E-620
• Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
• Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
• Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
• Sony Alpha DSLR-A450

You can download the update from Apple’s website HERE.

Adobe unveils Photoshop CS5 & CS5 Extended

Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced Adobe® Photoshop® CS5 and Photoshop CS5 Extended software, must-have releases of the professional industry standard for digital imaging. With millions of users celebrating the product’s 20th anniversary this year, Photoshop CS5 builds upon a rich history of innovation and leadership with groundbreaking features and performance gains that boost creativity and workflow efficiency. Packing in more technological advancements from Adobe Labs than any other release and incorporating enhancements to everyday tasks requested by the Photoshop community, the software has greater intelligence and awareness of the content within images, allowing for complex and magical manipulation in just a few clicks. Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended delivers everything in Photoshop CS5, as well as advanced tools for 3-D which address the unique needs of the video, Web, medical, manufacturing and engineering industries.

Photoshop CS5 and Photoshop CS5 Extended will be available as stand-alone applications or key components of the Adobe Creative Suite® 5 family.

“The past two decades have demonstrated an amazing interplay between customers who want to push the limits of their personal creativity and a passionate team of Adobe engineers who make those visions a reality,” said Kevin Connor, vice president of product management for professional digital imaging at Adobe. “We experienced this firsthand when we posted a ‘sneak peek’ video of the team’s work on the Content Aware Fill feature a few weeks ago. It quickly became the number one viral video online, with close to 2 million views and its ‘magic’ was one of the top trending Twitter topics of discussion. This version of Photoshop has some of the most innovative and extraordinary technologies to ever come from our labs and clearly customers are already clamoring for it.”

Redefining the Image-Editing Experience

Now a native 64-bit application on both Mac and Windows®, Photoshop CS5 delivers superior tools and creative control so users can perform advanced image manipulations and compositing with ease. Revolutionary image intelligence behind Content-Aware Fill magically removes any image detail or object, examines the surroundings and seamlessly fills in the space left behind. Lighting, tone and noise of the surrounding area match perfectly, looking as if the removed content never existed. New Refine Edge makes nearly-impossible image selections possible. This innovative technology precisely detects and masks the trickiest types of edges, such as hair and foliage, while eliminating background color contamination.

For photographers, Photoshop CS5 now offers next-generation high dynamic range (HDR) capabilities. When combining multiple exposures into a single HDR image, Photoshop CS5 preserves the full tonal range of a scene with unprecedented speed and accuracy. The new HDR Pro offers exceptional ghost artifact removal and greater tone mapping and adjustment control. With HDR toning, users can emulate the striking look of an HDR image with any single-exposure image.

Photoshop CS5 provides revolutionary tools that maximize users’ creative impact. Breakthrough painting capabilities include a Mixer Brush that blends an infinite combination of colors onto a single paintbrush tip, and Bristle Tips that offer lifelike brush strokes. Puppet Warp gives users the power to precisely reposition or warp any image element, such as straightening a bent arm in a photo or manipulating the landscape to generate a new perspective.

“Since its inception, Adobe Photoshop has been a key tool for pre-and post-production work in the motion picture industry,” said Jon Landau, Academy Award winning producer of Avatar and Titanic. “With Photoshop CS5 Extended, Adobe gives filmmakers new painting, HDR and 3-D tools that will help them push the limits of creativity. Faster performance with cross-platform 64-bit support and tight integration with other Adobe Creative Suite 5 software makes Photoshop CS5 an even more powerful tool in a filmmaker’s arsenal. Photoshop empowers filmmakers and creative professionals in virtually every other industry to turn their imagined ideas into onscreen reality.”

Community Involvement Drives Enhancements

In addition, more than 30 features and enhancements requested directly by the Photoshop community have been added to this release, including automatic image straightening, rule-of-thirds crop tool, color picker and the ability to save 16-bit images as JPEGs. The goal of this engineering effort was to address seemingly minor enhancements that directly impact everyday workflow, but aren’t always at the top of the development list for a new release. A new customizable Adobe Mini Bridge panel is also available directly in the software for faster file browsing and management.

Taking 3D and Motion to the Next Level

Photoshop CS5 Extended includes everything in Photoshop CS5 plus tools for editing 3D and motion-based content. With new Adobe Repoussé technology, users can easily create 3D logos and artwork from any text layer, shape or mask, as well as twist, rotate and extrude designs for different looks. To mirror the realism and appearance of 3D objects, a new materials library offers a breadth of rich options, including chrome, glass and cork. Users can also enhance the appearance of 3D objects by quickly creating shadows with the new shadow catcher. For motion content, tools including paint, text and clone can be used directly over multiple frames of a video sequence with ease using single-key shortcuts.

Adobe Photoshop Family

Building upon the 20-year history of Photoshop innovation and leadership, Adobe offers a line of Photoshop solutions for every level of user. Photoshop CS5 and Photoshop CS5 Extended software are at the heart of the Photoshop family, providing unrivaled power and editing freedom. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom® addresses the workflow needs of serious, amateur and professional photographers, helping them find, manage, enhance and showcase images in powerful ways. Adobe Photoshop Elements software provides accessible tools and sharing options for photo enthusiasts. Snap-shooters can quickly and easily share and edit photos with simple gestures using the free Photoshop.com Mobile application on their iPhone or Android™ devices. Photoshop.com completes the Photoshop line providing an online photo sharing, editing and hosting resource for all.

Pricing and Availability

Adobe Photoshop CS5 and CS5 Extended are scheduled to ship within 30 days with availability through Adobe Authorized Resellers, the Adobe Store and Adobe Direct Sales. Estimated street price for Adobe Photoshop CS5 is US$699 and US$999 for Photoshop CS5 Extended. Upgrade pricing and volume licensing are available. For more detailed information about features, OS support, upgrade policies and pricing, please visit www.adobe.com/go/photoshop.

Canon Thermal Travel Mug EF 70-200 f/4.0 L IS USM Lens

Apparently, this mug is real... check it out at Vistek. *update* look like the mug is sold out... guess you have to try ebay if you wish to get one...

Video of the mug

And here are some of the fake mug circulating around the net...

Via Doobybrain.

Via Flickr.

Apple releases Aperture v3.0.1

Two weeks after releasing Aperture 3, Apple has released an update to its raw-conversion and photo management software. Version 3.0.1 improves overall stability and fixes a number of bugs. The update can be accessed via the Software Update feature or is available for immediate download from Apple's website.

Click HERE for more information and to download the latest version

How well do you see color?

x-rite photo is now hosting an online color IQ test, it's an easy way for you to learn/judge how well you see color by dragging and dropping color chips into order according to hue. To take the test, click HERE.

As for me, I managed to score 39 out of 99 with the score 0 being perfect... hmm... well, at least i got above average and i'm only using my uncalibrated macbook... eheh...

Apple unveils Aperture 3

Apple® today introduced Aperture™ 3, the next major release of its powerful photo editing and management software, with over 200 new features including Faces, Places and Brushes. Building on the innovative Faces and Places features introduced in iPhoto® ’09, Aperture 3 makes it even easier and faster to organize large photo libraries. Aperture 3 introduces new tools to refine your photos including Brushes for painting image adjustments onto parts of your photo, and Adjustment Presets for applying professional photo effects with just one click. Stunning new slideshows let you share your work by weaving together photos, audio, text and HD video.

“Millions of people love using iPhoto to organize, edit and share their digital photos,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Aperture 3 is designed for both professionals who edit and manage massive libraries of photos and iPhoto users who want to take their photos further with easy-to-use tools such as Brushes and Adjustment Presets.”

“Aperture 3 gets it right,” said National Geographic photographer, Jim Richardson. “The image editing tools are exactly what I have been asking for, they’re so easy to use and give me a level of control that I never even thought possible.”

“I chose Aperture because it was the most powerful archiving application around, but it’s now an unbelievable imaging tool as well,” said Bill Frakes, Sports Illustrated staff photographer. “I am beyond impressed with the massive changes made in Aperture 3.”

Aperture 3 allows you to organize large photo libraries with even more flexibility using Projects and the new Faces and Places. Faces uses face detection and recognition to find and organize your photos by the people in them. You can view faces across your entire photo library or view just the faces that appear in selected projects. In a new view that speeds up the organization process, Aperture 3 displays faces that have been detected but haven’t yet been named. Places lets you explore your photos based on where they were taken, and like in iPhoto, Places automatically reverse geocodes GPS data into user-friendly locations. In Aperture 3, you can assign locations by dragging-and-dropping photos onto a map or by using location information from GPS enabled cameras, tracking devices or your iPhone® photos.

The new Brushes feature allows you to add professional touches to your photos by simply painting effects onto the image. Aperture 3 includes 15 Quick Brushes that perform the most popular tasks like Dodge, Burn, Polarize and Blur, without the complexity of layers or masks. Brushes can automatically detect edges in your images to let you apply or remove effects exactly where you want them. Aperture 3 includes dozens of Adjustment Presets that apply a specific style or look to the entire image with just a click. You can create your own custom presets or explore the techniques of other photographers by importing theirs.

Aperture 3 makes it easy to share your work with stunning slideshows that weave together photos, audio, text and HD video. You can select one of six Apple designed themes or choose your own transitions, background, borders and titles, and even add your own soundtrack. You can export your slideshows directly to iTunes® to take with you on your iPhone or iPod touch®. You can also share photographs as beautiful prints, create custom-designed hardcover books and publish to online photo sharing sites like Facebook and Flickr, right from Aperture 3.

Pricing & Availability

Aperture 3 is available through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) and existing Aperture users can upgrade for a suggested retail price of $99 (US). A downloadable 30-day trial version is available at www.apple.com/aperture/trial. Aperture 3 runs as a 64-bit application on Mac OS® X Snow Leopard® on Macs with Intel Core 2 Duo processors. Full system requirements, online tutorials and more information on Aperture 3 can be found at www.apple.com/aperture.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

Silicon Power announces 128GB 400x CF card

Worldclass flash memory manufacturer Silicon Power today announces the world’s first 400X Compact Flash (CF) card with 128GB of storage capacity. Announcing their 600X CF card not long ago for the ultimate performance, the 400X CF card is designed to offer the ultimate storage capacity while not compromising on performance, featuring a write speed of up to 90MB/sec. It is the largest storage capacity CF card to date!

Silicon Power’s 400X 128GB CF card supports PIO Mode-6 and Multi-Word DMA 4 transfer mode in quad-channel configuration. It is faster and more table for professional photography applications to capture data in fractions of a second. The 128GB of storage space allows photographer to snap away high definition photos at will and not have to worry about running out of storage space or swapping in an additional card. It also comes with Error Correction Code (ECC) functionality for data accuracy and it utilizes Wear Leveling technology to prolong the product lifespan. In turn, it ensures maximum performance and lifespan potential of the CF card and your product. 100% green, it is in compliance with European RoHS directive and comes with a Lifetime warranty.

In addition to the 400X and 600X CF cards, Silicon Power also offers 200X CF cards suited for devices that use (DSLR, DV, PDA, etc) using CF cards. Silicon Power’s wide range of CF cards is the complete portable digital device CF storage solution!

Product specification

• Dimension: 36.4mm x 42.8mm x 3.3mm
• Weight: 10g-12g
• In compliance with CF Association specifications
• Operating voltage: 3.3V/5V
• Operating temperature: 0℃~70℃
• Storage temperature: -40℃~85℃
• Capacity: 128GB / 64GB / 32GB / 16GB / 8GB
• Humidity: 8% to 95%
• Durability: At least plug and unplug 10,000 times
• Warranty: Lifetime

Falconeyes Flash Gun Accessories Kit Review

Continuing from my last test of the Falconeyes Flash Gun Accessories Kit, I managed to persuade my lil bro to be my guinea-pig... eheh...

Equipment used: Canon EOS 7D + Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM + Canon Speedlite 580EX II, zoomed @ 70mm, Shutter - 1/60, Aperture - f8.0, ISO - 200, temperature - 5300k, flash set to ETTL, flash placed on camera, distance between camera & subject is around 6 - 7 feet...

Flash Only (FEC 0)

Beauty Dish (FEC +3)

Globe-Diffusor (FEC +3)

Honey Comb (FEC 0)

Conical Snoot (FEC 0)

Softbox (FEC +2)

and here are the result of shots taken with the flash is placed off camera, roughly 45 degree from subject, distance between flash and subject are around 3 - 4 feet (which explain some of the hotspot/highlight on his face... it was a small room, so i was unable to get a longer distance...)

Flash Only (FEC 0)

Beauty Dish (FEC 0)

a candid shot using the beauty dish with the flash placed on camera...

Globe-Diffusor (FEC 0)

Honey Comb (FEC 0)

Conical Snoot (FEC 0)

another shot using conical snoot at a different angle...

Softbox (FEC 0)

the softbox also provide different colour...

Green

Dark Blue

Red

Yellow

Light Blue

Orange

just for fun/comparison... i took this shot using the diffuser which you can normally find in a 5-in-1 reflector set...

and that conclude my test on the Falconeyes Flash Gun Accessories Kit... personally, I haven't have any experience with a proper studio lighting yet, so I don't really know how my shots would stand out against a proper studio lighting... but based on this test alone, i can say that it does give me option to play with lighting and can try to achieve different style... however, in the case of off-camera setting, the result wasn't really that good (but then again, it might be my setting that is wrong)... this weakness can be seen when comparing to the last picture which i took using a diffuser from a 5-in-1 reflector kit... so i still can't really give a thumbs up to this equipment, but at the same time, i won't say that this is a trash either...

with the price of this equipment listed at BND288 @ QQeStore, i can't really say it's a bargain, but if you can find it cheaper elsewhere, it might be a bargain considering you can get 6 different equipment that can produce 6 or more different lighting style... in the hand of a creative photographer, i'm pretty sure they can achieve/make a superb lighting using this equipment... so overall, more test is needed whether to see whether i'm gonna really like it or not... i still need to see how it will perform during an outdoor shooting... so the bottomline is if the price was cheaper, than i say can this can be a good cheap option for amateurs should they don't do DIY...

Falconeyes Flash Gun Accessories Kit Quick Test

I actually wanted to get myself an Orbis, but since none of my friends are going to Singapore anywhere soon, so I ended up buying this 6 in 1 flash gun accessories kit out of curiosity... yepz... bought it coz I'm curious rather than needing it... LoL...

Anyway... so I wanted to try out this equipment, unfortunately, there weren't anybody who was willing to become my guinea-pig, so I just end up taking shots of my figurines... btw, this is just a quick shots, not a proper one, so excuse for the irregular lighting result... and at that time, my Canon 5D Mark II had Sigma 50mm f1.4 on it and was too lazy to change it... eheh... so as a result, distance between my camera & my figurines are just around 1 feet away... not really a good distance to see the full effect of the flash... owh, and the flash are on the camera...

So straight to the point, here is the first shot with flash only (FEC +1/3)... all shots are taken with the flash pointing directly at the figurines...

Softbox (FEC +1.0)

Honey Comb (FEC +1)

Beauty Dish (FEC +3)

Globe-Diffusor (FEC +3)

and just for fun, here are a few shots taken with the flash pointing at direct angle...

Globe-diffusor at 90 degree (FEC +2)

Flash only at 45 degree pointing at the back of the camera (FEC +2)

Flash only at 75 degree + on flash little reflector facing front (FEC +2)

Due to the nature of this test, I can't draw a conclusive conclusion just yet... hopefully I can get to do a more proper test and a better review this weekend... but of course, you can't expect the result to rival a proper studio lighting... but heck, just want to see how far I can go using this equipment...

Canon releases new firmware for three cameras, transmitter

Canon has released the following firmware updates:

• Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III Firmware Update Version 1.2.0
• Canon EOS 1D Mark III Firmware Update Version 1.3.0
• Canon EOS 5D Mark II Firmware Update Version 1.2.4
• Canon WFT-E2 / E2A Firmware Update Version 2.0.0

The Mark III bodies gain support for the WFT-E2 II wireless file transmitter that was released in December 2009.

The 5D Mark II improvements and fixes are:

"1. Supports the WFT-E4 II wireless file transmitter that was released in December 2009."

"2. Corrects a phenomenon in which visible noise may appear in images taken by continuous Bulb shooting."

"Firmware Version 2.0.0 supports the use of the WFT-E2 / E2A wireless file transmitter with the EOS-1D Mark IV digital SLR camera. If you are using the WFT-E2 / E2A with the EOS-1D Mark III or EOS-1Ds Mark III, you do not need to update the firmware."

SanDisk unveils more Extreme cards

SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), the global leader in flash memory cards, today introduced a new line of SanDisk Extreme® Pro™ CompactFlash® memory cards, setting a new standard for fast, reliable, high-capacity memory cards designed for professional photographers. SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash cards feature a new SanDisk® Power Core Controller™, an advanced memory controller that enables lightning-fast read and write speeds of up to 90MB/s*1, doubling the performance from previous SanDisk high-end cards. The cards are shipping worldwide now with capacities ranging from 16 gigabytes (GB)*2 to 64GB.

“The new SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash line is the direct result of SanDisk’s passion, commitment, and break-through engineering innovation to provide best-in-class flash memory cards for professional photography,” said Eric Bone, vice president, retail product marketing, SanDisk. “The SanDisk Power Core Controller delivers unmatched write speed and reliability, providing photographers with a spectacular combination of performance, capacity and peace of mind that images are safely stored.”

SanDisk develops its flash controllers and memory chips together, allowing the company to perfectly match and fine-tune the two technologies throughout the testing process, resulting in high-performance products with industry-leading endurance. The SanDisk Power Core Controller brings numerous benefits to the SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash cards, including:

• High-Performance: The SanDisk® Power Core™ Controller’s dual-lane architecture and software algorithms double card performance, enabling the SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash cards’ read/write speeds of up to 90MB/s over a UDMA-6 bus.
• Increased-Reliability: The SanDisk Power Core Controller’s firmware algorithms and 42-bit ECC engine maintain data integrity and extended card endurance through optimised wear leveling.
• Simplified Design: To further increase overall card durability, the SanDisk Power Core Controller features an integrated design that requires fewer individual components on the card’s printed circuit board.

Pricing and Availability

SanDisk Extreme CompactFlash cards will be available in capacities of 8GB to 32GB and MSRP ranging from £61 to £190, while SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash cards will be available in capacities of 16GB to 64GB and MSRP ranging from £197 to £657. Exact pricing for the cards will be set by retailers.

*1 Up to 90MB/s read/write. Based on SanDisk internal testing; performance may vary depending upon host device. 1 megabyte (MB) = 1 million bytes. X=150KB/sec.

*2 1 gigabyte (GB) = 1 billion bytes. Some capacity not available for data storage.

Sony IPT-DS1 Partyshot Automatically Takes Photos of Everyone

Sony unveiled a cool new accessory for the new Sony TX1 and Sony WX1 cameras today with the IPT-DS1 Partyshot docking station.

The Sony IPT-DS1 Partyshot pans and tilts the camera while adjusting zoom settings. Face Detection and Smile Shutter recognize and track faces for happy, naturally composed pictures of everyone in the room.

So you can have a dinner party and just place the TX1 in the IPT-DS1 activate Partyshot and you are done. After the party your camera is full with photo of smiling party guests.

The Sony IPT-DS1 is supposed to be available in September. Pricing is not known yet.

Toshiba 64GB SDXC Card is World's First

Today Toshiba announced the launch of the world's first 64GB SDXC Memory Card capable of operating at the world's fastest data transfer rate for reading and writing to a flash memory card.

The new 64GB SDXC Memory Card is compliant with the new SD Memory Standard, Ver. 3.00, UHS104.

Toshiba also unveiled 32GB and 16GB SDHC Memory Cards compliant with the world's fastest data transfer rate.

Samples of the new SDXC Memory Cards will be available this November, and samples of the new SDHC Memory Cards will be available in December.

The SDXC card is the next-generation standard defined by the SD Association in January 2009. The new standard applies to cards with capacities over 32GB and up to 2TB, compared to the SDHC standard, which applies to cards with capacities over 2GB and up to 32GB.

Via: Toshiba