Sigma DP2 Firmware update

Update for users of the Sigma DP2 now available.
Version 1.01 can be downloaded from the Sigma site

Twitter ID: UKpix

Classic Leica M4 beats the crunch

A classic Leica M4 'olive' camera sold for £76,891 (87,600 euros) at the weekend.

It was sold at the Westlicht Photographica auction in Vienna, which raised about £965,530 (more than one million euros) as classic cameras defied the economic downturn.

Report and picture of a fabulous camera on the Amateur Photographer website.

Twitter ID: UKpix

Lumix 14-45mm lens update

Firmware updates are available for the Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-45 mm lens.

This version, 1.1, improves auto focusing in Continuous AF mode.

Panasonic

Canon EOS 5D Mark II update

A firmware update for the Canon 5D Mark II has been announced

The update allows manual exposure using the video mode.

Firmware is available for downloading from June 2 at the Canon website.

Adobe releases Camera Raw 5.4

A new Photoshop Camera Raw version has been released by Adobe.

Camera Raw 5.4 is a 'Release Candidate', which means the update is tested but not yet finalised.

The latest version adds support for 26 cameras and backs, including the Canon EOS 5ooD, Nikon D5000, Olympus E620 and 18 Hasselblad models.

It can be dowloaded now from Adobe's Labs site.

Cameras and backs supported:

Canon EOS 500D (EOS Rebel T1i)
Epson R-D1x
Hasselblad CF-22, CF-22MS, CF-39, CF-39MS, CFH-22, CFH-39, CFV, 503CWD, H2D-22, H2D-39, H3D-22, H3D-31, H3D-39, H3DII-22, H3DII-31, H3DII-39, H3DII-39MS, H3DII-50
Kodak EasyShare Z980
Nikon D5000
Olympus E-450
Olympus E-620
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
Sigma DP2

Pentax K7 announced

Pentax has launched the K7, a 14.6 million pixel DSLR with live view and HD video.

Pentax preview

Panasonic: new adapters for DMC G1/GH1

Panasonic: the company has announced new Leica M and R adapters for its Lumix G Micro system.

The company says: The M Mount Adaptor and R Mount Adaptor are developed under support of Leica Camera AG, making it possible to attach Leica M lenses (DMW-MA2M) or R lenses (DMW-MA3R) on DMC-G1 and DMC-GH1. Users can enjoy outstanding image rendering offered by the combination of high quality Leica lenses and Lumix G cameras that are full of Panasonic's cutting edge digital technologies.

These adapters also allow users to use the movable MF assist function, which enlarges the selected area when focusing manually.

Olympus Zuiko digital lens updates

Olympus has announced firmware updates for four of its Zuiko lenses:

Zuiko Digital ED 8mm F3.5 Fisheye
ED 18-180mm F3.5-6.3
ED 70-300mm F4.0-5.6
ED 90-250mm F2.8

The updates are supposed to improve performance in continuous auto focus shooting mode using the top of the range E-3 and the E-30 digital SLRs.

firmware update page

Panasonic GH1 gallery, Sigma DP2

Camera News from UKpix.com

Panasonic: dpreview.com now has a gallery and movie samples of the GH1. Panasonic has announced that it will cost about $1499.99.

Sigma: the high-end compact DP2 has arrived in the UK. It costs £599.99. Sigma site

Ricoh: firmware update for CX1 compact.

Camera News: April 2009

Extract from Camera News at UKpix.com

APRIL 2009

Canon: Amateur Photographer magazine reports that Canon has issued a warning over some G10 cameras producing 'lines' on photos.

Canon: Firmware for EOS 50D, 450D, 1000D announced.

Cosina: A voigtlander M-mount adapter for the Micro Four Thirds system launched.

Ricoh: Firmware release for GR Digital II.

Noise Ninja: The brilliant noise-reduction software from PictureCode has been update. Version now Noise Ninja v2.2.0.

Phase One: A medium format back with 40mp resolution announced by Phase One. It costs an arm and a leg, though, at 14,990 euros or for a complete camera system at 16,990 euros. Start saving! Phaseone.com.

Nikon D5000: Nikon has announced the introduction of another entry-level DSLR, the D5000. It will have a 12.3 mp sensor, a 2.7in 'vari-angle' flip-out screen, live view and 'HD' movie mode. Placed between the D60 and D90 cameras, it is expected to be a rival to Canon's 500D. Due out next month (May) and expected to cost £719.99.

Preview samples images are at dpreview.com

Olympus E-3: firmware update. Download and install using Olympus Master or Studio software.

Pentax K20D: firmware update. Go to the Pentax website.

Voigtlander: the Voigtlander Bessa III might not be launched in the UK, according to a news item in Amateur Photographer magazine. It is expected in Europe next month (May).

Phase One: an updated version of Capture 4, PRO and DB RAW workflow software has been announced.

Olympus E-30: the company has posted a firmware update for the E-30 DSLR. It can be installed via Olympus Master or Studio software.

Camera News: March 2009

Extract of news from UKpix.com

Olympus E-450: An upgrade of the company's tiny DSLR has been launched. The E-450 is basically the same as the previous E-420 but has 3 Art Filters, a new processor and improved LCD. Expected to cost £450 and be available in May.

Canon EOS 500D: a new DSLR has been launched. Called the EOS 500D (Rebel T1i), it has a 15.1 mp APS-C CMOS sensor and HD video recording. It will cost £869.99 and be available in May. The US price tag is expected to be $799.99. The huge difference in price is the subject of a debate in Amateur Photographer magazine, with Canon responding to criticism from UK customers.

Leica D-Lux 4: firmware has been upgraded to improve auto white balance and auto focus. Now available from the Leica website.

Olympus E620: There is now a picture gallery available at dpreview.com

Voigtlander: Bessa III: The Bessa III has been priced at 1,999 euros and is expected next month.

Leica R: Leica has decided to discontinue the R-Series manual SLR. A new R-system is expected following the development of the company's S2 digital offering.

Panasonic DMC-GH1: Only five months after launching the micro four thirds G1, Panasonic has revealed an HD version with video recording. It is a 12.1 megapixel camera with 1080/24p or 720/60p HD video with continuous auto focus. Two new lenses are launched, the LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. and the
LUMIX G VARIO 7-14mm/F4.0 ASPH.
Hands on review of the GH1 available at www.dpreview.com

Canon: AF fix and firmware update for Canon EOS-1D cameras. Go to the Canon website.

What a long time

Can't believe that it has been nearly three years since I used this blog. That's a lot of different camera equipment under the bridge.

Have found what I believe is one of the best travel cameras... the Panasonic G1. You can even fit Leica M lenses using an adaptor. It's manual focus with the M glass, but fantastically detailed.

The Panasonic has great reviews and I have samples on the website... go to ukpix.com.

For the technically minded, the G1 is a micro four thirds camera that's a cross between a conventional digital SLR, the old bridge cameras and a compact camera. The format allows much smaller lenses and bodies because it doesn't have a mirror.

The viewfinder is electronic. Yeah, I know these used to be a bit nasty in the old days. But the G1's is very good indeed, although a bit fuzzy in low light.

I have had better pictures from this little camera than a Leica M8 (OK, so I've got one of those as well), which is a bit annoying because the rangefinder costs an arm and a leg.

Check out my latest images of Rome taken with the G1. These are now with the Alamy picture agency