I know I’m probably behind the game, but Adobe has finally released Lightroom 3.5, the latest update to Adobe’s Lightroom 3 program. Lightroom 3.5 mostly adds compatibility updates for new cameras, including
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In addition the read me lists at least 20 bug fixes, including a preview cache performance issue.
As always the download can be reached form the Help menu inside of Lightroom which will take you directly to the Adobe Lightroom 3.5 Download page.
Just a quick note, for anybody who hasn’t been paying attention. Over the last week or so a bug in Lightroom 3.4 was discovered that could cause some JPEGs to become corrupted when metadata was written to them. RAW files, however were unaffected.
Adobe has since addressed the issue by posting version 3.4.1. The download, if you don’t have auto updates enabled, can be found at Adobe’s site or by clicking check for updates in Lightroom.
I’ve received at least one email, and now a comment about sudden flash death induced by or related to LPA design’s Control TL PocketWizards. Moreover, a recent post on Canon rumors has a link to a paper, purportedly produced by LPA Design employees summarizing their investigation into flashes failing.
LPA design claims to have received reports from 120-140 customers that their 580EX II flashes, has been damaged within the past 18 months with similar symptoms. The symptom specifically is the inability for the damaged flash to produce controlled bursts. Lacking the ability to control the output, the flash will make a full power discharge all the time, even for TTL pre-flashes.
From my interpretation of the LPA design report, the problem lies in the flash and not the PocketWizards.
Moreover, it seems that if your flash exhibits defects that lead to the failure use becomes a consideration. In LPA Design’s tests, the arcing occurred randomly, even in HSS discharges where you would expect to see it in every “pop”.
Finally, it’s entirely likely that as many 580EX II flashes are failing on users who aren’t using PocketWizards at all, but we’re not hearing about it since they either aren’t being used as much or simply are being considered a case of random broken equipment by the users.
The LPA investigation tracked down the problem to 2 main areas. First, the failure is ultimately noticed when the insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) that controls the actual flow of current to the flash tube dies. Secondly, it appears that the IGBT dies due to repeated arcing between the flash tube and the reflector behind it.
Looking for my take on the Canon EOS-1D X announced in Fall of 2011? Click here.
It’s that time again, time for Canon’s spring product announcements. The big, at least for me, announcement is a 200-400mm lens. However, Canon is also bringing to market a 2 new consumer level SLRs and a pair of new low end flashes.
Call this a day late and a dollar short. I’m not big or important enough for Canon to give prior notice to, so my comments are limited to what I can glean after the embargo’s end and the press releases go up.
Overall, Canon has put forward a couple of solid looking entry level cameras, finished replacing their new stabilized super-telephoto primes, and released a pair of low-end flashes, one with some very intriguing features. Moreover, Canon is clearly continuing to treat video support as a first class citizen in their SLRs by adding features that make sense and continuing to refine and improve the way you can use it.
LPA Design has begun shipping their MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 ControlTL PocketWizards for Nikon cameras to dealers in Europe and Canada. US versions are expected to follow in 2 weeks and be available on store shelves in mid-December.
Rob Galbraith has an indepth preview of the Nikon ‘Wizards available. I’ve also updated my review with the few applicable notes on the differences between Nikon and Canon versions.
In addition to the release of Nikon compatible hardware, there’s also a new version available for the PocketWizard Utility, which attempts to simplify the UI and adds some much needed functionality.
Version 1.35 of PocketWizard utility adds a number of useful features including:
All of the above changes are welcomed updates if you ask me.
Version 1.35 of the PocketWizard Utility can be downloaded from PocketWizard’s downloads page.
Firmware version 5.206 for the MiniTT1 and 5.207 for the FlexTT5 brings the following improovments.
Keep in mind, however, that version 5.206 and 5.207 are beta releases and won’t be avaiable unless you’ve opted into the beta firmware program. They also require version 1.35 of the PocketWizard Utility to download and install.
What is it with camera companies coming up with a great idea, developing it then stopping one killer feature away from completing it? The latest example of this, well at least in my opinion, is Fuji’s new Finepix X100.
I’ve been mulling this camera over since it was announced on the 20th, and I have to say, it’s hard not to get excited about it. The X100 is a near-compact camera that is clearly aimed squarely at the serious photographers.
Actually, the Finepix X100 is, to me, a hairs breath away from being the digital Leica M for those of us that can’t afford a Leica M9.
The design is pure “reto” genius. If there ever were a camera that packaged the sensibilities that made rangefinders attractive into digital body while preserving the functionality, this would be it.
The X100’s design sensibilities are straightforward and follow and in many ways that makes for some strong queues that the X100 is targeting serious photographers.
It’s fall, Photokina 2010 is coming up, and just a week ago Nikon announced their fall new products. Today, it’s Canon’s turn.
First up is the impressive as a consumer class camera, but maybe not so much as a replacement for the EOS 50D. What’s gone is the Aluminum/Magnesium body, the 6.3 FPS frame rate, AF micro adjustments, and compact flash cards.
The new EOS 60D, yep it still looks like a Canon SLR.
Out with the old in with the new. New to the EOS 60D, among other things, is:
Clearly canon is putting more and more focus on video in their new SLRs, though the lack of video information on the Canon USA product page is a bit of an odd oversight. The EOS 60D has full manual video control, including manual gain control of the audio. It also has in camera editing functionality, which I guess is handy given what appears to be the target market for the EOS 60D.
Canon announced today that they’ve developed a 120MP (that’s a 13,280 x 9,184 pixel image) APS-H format sensor that has a laundry list of features. The sensor can be completely read out in about 10ms, resulting in a 9.5 FPS frame rate, it can do full HD video from the whole sensor (I assume) or one of several 1/16th area sections. Fortunately, or unfortunately as it may be, this is just a prototype and not something Canon has any immediate plans for.
The full press release can be read on Canon’s website. What follows are my thoughts on this sensor and what it could mean for photography down the road.
From the scant details in the press release, we can make a few estimates about the sensor. For starters, the sensor packs 120 million pixels, resulting in a 13,380 x 9,184 image, in a 29.2mm x 20.2mm area. Simple math tells us, that the pixels are approximately 2-microns across.
2um pixels alone aren’t something new, many of the better performing current generation point and shoots have pixels that size, including Canon’s PowerShot G11 and S90. What is unprecedented, however, is the move to make a sensor with that pixel pitch that big.
This may not exactly be news, I just got a notice about it while re-profiling my displays, but Datacolor has released (as of July 30, 2010) a new version of their Spyder 3 calibration software, version 4.0.2 for Windows and Mac OS. The new version has a slightly reworked UI that slightly improves the programs usability and provides some automated brightness controls for users with displays that lack them.
Version 4.0.2 can be downloaded form Datacolor’s download site.
It’s been long in the waiting, for me at lest, LPA Design’s AC-3 Zone Controller has finally started making it into retail channels. The AC-3 Zone Controller, is the little add-on that slots into the top hotshoe of LPA Design’s Mini TT1 or Flex TT5 transmitters so you can control flash powers in multiple zones without having to have a flash on the camera.
Supposedly they were released to distributors some time ago, however, they appear to be just making it into retail channels.
B&H Photo finally has them listed, though they apparently aren’t stocking them.
Midwest Photo Exchange also has them listed, though with even less detail.
The AC-3 is listed at $69.99 from both sources.
