X-Rite, Incorporated (NASDAQ: XRIT) along with recently acquired Pantone, Inc.
has introduced ColorMunki, said to provide photographers and designers new technological
advances that address core issues of color creation, control and communication
in easy-to-use, integrated solutions. The ColorMunki portfolio includes ColorMunki
Photo, ColorMunki Design and ColorMunki Create, all supported by www.colormunki.com.
The following was posted recently on the Adobe blog page site:
The Lightroom 1.4 update for Mac and Windows has been temporarily removed from
the Adobe.com web site. Those Lightroom users who have installed Lightroom 1.4
should uninstall the update and install Lightroom 1.3.1.(Mac, Win) until a further
update can be provided. For those not in immediate need of the updated camera
support available in Camera Raw 4.4 or the DNG 4.4 Converter, it's recommended
that you also continue working with the 4.3.1 versions. (Mac, Win) This decision
is based on the following errors that have been discovered with the recent update:
EXIF Time Stamp Error: There is an error in the EXIF time stamp
update technology that causes Lightroom to believe that the files are out of
sync with the correct time stamp as displayed in Lightroom. Any ensuing metadata
update will attempt to incorrectly modify the EXIF time stamp in the original
raw file itself. This is the only metadata field that Lightroom will write to
an original proprietary raw file. This error will not impact the integrity of
your image data. The Camera Raw plug-in also will incorrectly change the EXIF
time stamp in files converted by the plug-in. The information written to the
XMP sidecar files or XMP metadata in the converted files will remain correct.
DNG Conversion Error(Windows Only): With the latest version
of the Lightroom 1.4 and Camera Raw 4.4 applications, Adobe has included technology
to verify that the image data in a DNG file is unchanged from when it was originally
converted to DNG. Unfortunately, when converting to DNG using Lightroom 1.4
on Windows, the application will write an incorrect verification tag to describe
the image data. When Lightroom attempts to work with those files in the Develop
module, the application reads that incorrect tag, believes that there is something
wrong with the raw data and will present an error. Rest assured, there is nothing
wrong with the integrity of your image data or metadata. For those that have
already converted their files to DNG using Lightroom 1.4(Windows only) we recommend
using the DNG 4.3.1 converter to convert the DNG files you've created
with Lightroom 1.4.
Olympus Conversion Error: There is an error in converting Olympus
JPEG files to other formats in Lightroom 1.4 and the Camera Raw 4.4 plug-in.
To uninstall Lightroom 1.4 please see the instructions per your platform: Mac:
Delete the Lightroom application in the Application folder(Mac) and Delete the
following file: Library/Receipts/Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.pkg Windows: Choose
the Uninstall Lightroom 1.4 menu item from the Windows start menu. The Add/Remove
Program utility on Windows will also achieve the same result.
Direct Source Marketing, the U.S. distributor for medium and large format Horseman
and Rolleiflex professional cameras, has announced the MiniDigi AF 5.0, a three-inch
high, fully functional digital replica of the original and classic twin reflex
camera. In 2006, Rolleiflex introduced the original MiniDigi, which looked like
the original but, due to popular demand quickly sold out. The new MiniDigi AF
(auto focus) 5.0 has been given some significant performance upgrades, including
a 3 megapixel CMOS sensor; auto focus (between 10CM and infinity); and a clear
1.1 inch TFT, which is located at the top of the camera as it is on the full-sized
Rolleiflex TLR.
It
is available through specialty retailers. Pricing is expected to be $399 MSRP.
...
Sekonic has announced the release of new Data Transfer Software for the L-758DR
exposure meter. The software is used to create and edit camera exposure profiles
and then transfer them to the L-758DR for extremely accurate control of exposure.
Along with the sensor's dynamic range, it records the unique variations of your
digital camera, such as the effects of shutter speed and aperture mechanisms
as well as the characteristics of the lens in use.
Phase One A/S and Mamiya Digital Imaging Co., Ltd. today unveiled an open medium
format digital camera platform. Known as the Phase One 645 Camera or the Mamiya
645AFDIII, the co-developed platform will be sold exclusively by Phase One and
Mamiya.
The camera platform provides a modular system that offers unprecedented feature
combinations, and most significantly the freedom to choose individual components
from an open platform to best serve their working needs.
Designed to accept all quality digital camera backs, the camera platform is
also open for traditional film operation. It offers the widest choice of high-end
lenses, including the complete Mamiya 645 lens range, the new 28mm aspherical
and D series lenses, as well as Hasselblad V-lenses and Pentacon Six lenses.
It is designed to achieve shutter speeds from 1/4000 sec. to 60 min. The camera
features an ergonomic molded grip and provides direct control of critical camera
settings using manual dials -- both of which are essential elements for the
professional photographer engaged in day-long hand-held shooting sessions.
"Phase One and Mamiya have taken the first step in delivering a unique
approach to designing camera systems," said Henrik Hakonsson, CEO of Phase
One. "We believe that equipment interoperability and personal choice are
integral values in realizing the highest quality imaging results. Furthermore
we have invested heavily in optimizing all elements of the camera systems reliability
to maximize the photographers' time for shooting extraordinary images."
"Mamiya and Phase One are consolidating our expertise and fulfilling our
ambitions to provide the products desired by our customers," said Tsuyoshi
Tsutsumi, CEO of Mamiya Digital Imaging. "We will continue to cooperate
and work hard to ensure that future camera systems are limited only by the imagination
and desires of the artists that use them."
Mamiya has announced two new high performance digital (Mamiya Sekor D Series)
lenses for the Mamiya 645AFD II and the newly announced 645AFD III camera systems.
The latest member of the ZM lens family is the C Biogon T* 2,8/35 ZM. The "C"
in the title indicates another outstanding feature: rather unusual for a lens
of this performance class, its moderate speed of 1:2.8 permits an exceptionally
compact construction. The symmetrical Biogon construction with 7 lens elements
in 5 groups allows for practically distortion-free images.
Kingston Technology Company, Inc. announced it has posted answers to a new series
of questions submitted by professional and aspiring photographers on its Ask the
Icon interactive feature on the `Icons of Photography' microsite at www.kingston.com/iop.
"Kingston's `Icons of Photography' continues to generate
interest from photographers worldwide who have specific questions to ask of some
of the world's most-respected photographers," said Jaja Lin, Flash
memory marketing manager, Kingston. "Providing a platform for sharing thoughts
and ideas was the impetus for creating the `Icons of Photography'
program and we're pleased to see that consumers and pros alike are utilizing
this resource to forward their own careers and creative interests," added
Lin.
Questions submitted by photographers from Malaysia, Zimbabwe, Europe and the U.S.
were addressed by Kingston's Icons including Harry Benson, Colin Finlay,
Gerd Ludwig and Peter Read Miller. The Icons offered sage advice on topics including
shooting in extreme conditions, how a publication captures events from multiple
angles and finding work as a photographer.
"It is encouraging to see how many people who really want to learn more
about photography and take their work to the next level," said Peter Read
Miller, Sports Illustrated photographer who recently photographed the Super Bowl
and is preparing for the 2008 Summer Olympics. "Consumers are looking at
their photography as a form of personal expression and that is always a good thing,"
Miller added.
In April, Kingston will publish the next round of Critique My Image. Visitors
are encouraged to submit any photographs they would like to have critiqued by
Kingston's Icons. Submissions can be made through www.Kingston.com/iop.