Canon 1D MarkIV Unboxing

Just want to wish everyone a Good New 2010.

I've received the 1D MarkIV and want to share with you something that I have never done in the past and never ever think of doing it.

Video unboxing..., this is a new concept for me as well as having video here on Lighting Mods. I'm pretty sure that video will become part of us photographers and one way or the other video would be came also a photographer standard for online portfolios and photo presentations.

We are assisting a lot of changes in the photography business and video is coming a part of it as Canon and Nikon, and also other brands, are making efforts to release their cameras with video and calling it the great thing.

Anyway, today I want to share with you the unboxing of a new 1D MarkIV that is becoming available through stores around the world. Since the "flop" of the 1D MarkIII many of us photojournalist were waiting for Canon to throw us a line and I think this is just the beginning...

I was hoping that Canon would introduce some kind of a return policy for the 1D MarkIII owners but I guess that was me asking too much of a Marketing company as Canon.

Well just take a look at the video below and hope you enjoy it.

I also made some two more videos with a side by side between the older model 1D MarkIII and the new 1D MarkIV so stay tune for them on the next post, soon.

Go easy on me on this one has this is my first one ;)

Enjoy and post your comments if you like.



I have the 1D MarkIII available for sale, in case anyone is interested in, please visit my flick page for some photos and mail me for more information. Will ship to any place in Europe free of charge.

Online Store Supplier: Achatzi.de

If you like this video also check the Side By Side article Side By Side: Canon 1D MarkIV Vs 1D MarkIII.

Lightroom 2.6 & Camera Raw 5.6 Oficial Released

Lightroom 2.6 and Camera Raw 5.6 are now available as final releases and through the update mechanisms available in Photoshop CS4 and Lightroom 2.

Continue reading to check the new supported cameras and download links.

These updates include camera support for the following models:

* Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
* Canon EOS 7D
* Canon PowerShot G11
* Canon PowerShot S90
* Leaf Aptus-II 5
* Mamiya DM22
* Mamiya DM28
* Mamiya DM33
* Mamiya DM56
* Mamiya M18
* Mamiya M22
* Mamiya M31
* Nikon D3s
* Olympus E-P2
* Panasonic DMC-FZ38
* Pentax K-x
* Sigma DP1s
* Sony A500
* Sony A550
* Sony A850

Release Notes:

* Camera Raw 5.6 and Lightroom 2.6 provide a fix for an issue affecting PowerPC customers using the final Lightroom 2.5, Camera Raw 5.5 and DNG Converter 5.5 updates on the Mac. The issue, introduced in the demosaic change to address sensors with unequal green response, has the potential to create artifacts in highlight areas when processing raw files from Sony, Olympus, Panasonic and various medium format digital camera backs.

* The Lightroom 3 beta has not been updated with this new camera support. If you're working with one of these newer cameras and the Lightroom 3 beta, please use the DNG Converter 5.6 to convert proprietary formats to DNG files that can be used in the Lightroom 3 beta.

* This release includes improved camera profiles for the Leica M9 and Ricoh GXR.

Direct Downloads:

Lightroom 2.6 for Mac or Win
Camera Raw 5.6 and DNG Converter for Mac or Win

Canon firmware updated for 5d MarkII & 1D MarkIII

Canon released new firmware updates... but hold on to your horses 'cause none of them is video related :(

That is due to be out in the Spring has you may be aware of.

We still have to wait a little bit longer for the new 1D MarkIV (no dates, yet, for the availability nor to when it will be available, although it has been already shown to the public).

I came across to the 1D MarkIV, beta models available here in Portugal, but no images were to be taken nor Canon Portugal would lend me it for some field tests, anyway it feels just like and ordinary 1D body with some tweaks here and there and with awesome screen... just hope it will not bring the focus problems anymore or Canon will be doomed.

Meanwhile this firmware updates seams to be related with the 800,00 euro WFT-E2/E2A and on the 5D MarkII also corrects a phenomenon in which visible noise may appear in images taken by continuous Bulb shooting.

You can get the direct download links clicking more to continue reading.

Here are direct the links (the 1D series need the camera serial number) for Win and Mac:

* 1Ds Mark III
* 1D Mark III
* 5D Mark II

The 5D MarkII also corrects a phenomenon in which visible noise may appear in images taken by continuous Bulb shooting.

You will also need to update your WFT-E2/E2A (if you have one):

* WFT-E2/E2A

Adobe Lightroom 3.0 Beta is Out to Try for Free

Well it's out!!!

Beware that this is only a BETA version and by any means use this with your production pictures.

YOU WERE WARNED!!

My advise is to use it with some copied pictures and test it out.

Check what's inside and download links...

Here are a few key details on what they are looking for feedback on:


Import
We've redesigned the Lightroom import experience to make it much easier to visualize how Lightroom allows you to manage your files. You'll be able to see exactly where you've asked Lightroom to copy your files off your card and then use import presets in compact mode to get fast repeatable results every time. You can also quickly browse your hard drive to find exactly the right file you need to work on.


Publish Collections
We live in a connected world so you need direct access to publish your photos on your favorite sharing site from directly within the Lightroom Library. In the Lightroom 3 public beta we're providing direct access to the Flickr photo sharing site so that adding images to your Photostream is as simple as a drag and drop. You can see all of your uploaded images and if you make any changes to those images you can have them updated on Flickr automatically.(Pro accounts only) When a visitor comments on your images, Lightroom can pull that comment right back into the Library so that you can see feedback on your files where it belongs, next to the image in your Lightroom library. We've built this functionality with the same extensibility designed for our Export Plug-ins so if Flickr isn't your cup of tea we're working hard to support developers who can create connections to any of the popular photo sharing sites. Publish collections can do more than just publish to a photo sharing site. You can have a publish collection that allows you to publish images to my iPhone sync folder with drag and drop simplicity.

Image Quality
Sharpening and Noise Reduction
In the Develop module we've focused on tuning our raw processing algorithms to extract incredible detail and quality from your images. Capture sharpening and Color Noise Reduction improvements work together to give you incredible noise reduction results without losing that fine detail. We're only halfway through our noise reduction efforts but believe that you will be very pleased with the results so far. We've actually disabled the previous Luminance Noise Reduction so that you can focus on evaluating the Color Noise reduction implementation.

Grain
While Lightroom's improved noise reduction will give you incredibly smooth images, sometimes you want a little texture or grain in your images. We've added a grain tool that can add a natural film-style grain to your images to get that perfect look for your photo.

Vignette
The Lightroom team received quite a bit of feedback on our post-crop vignette tool in Lightroom 2 that allows photographers to apply beautifully styled vignettes after cropping is applied. While the tool was received quite well, we found that photographers wanted a more natural vignette that utilized an exposure or brightness effect rather than just painting black and white on the edges of images. We've added two vignette modes in Lightroom 3 beta, Color Priority and Highlight Priority that attempt to provide the natural vignette that photographers have requested. Let's not get hung up on the technical details of these models but rather focus on which you prefer for your images and why.

Process Version
The changes above are so significant that for the first time since the Camera Raw plug-in was introduced in 2003, we've needed to add the concept of a process version. The process version specifies which version of certain Camera Raw image processing elements should be used when rendering and editing files. Process version can affect raw, DNG, TIFF, JPEG, and PSD files. The process version is incremented only when major changes to the raw processing or features are changed. In Lightroom 3, the demosaicing, noise reduction, sharpening, and post crop vignette were all updated. Depending on what is applied to the image, different image characteristics will change more dramatically than others (i.e. sharpening should change sharpening characteristics etc.), but the demosaic changes apply across the board, so there will always be some change. By default, we'll leave your images just as they were but if you want to take advantage of the latest processing technology, just update to the current process version. You can update to the latest process version by selecting the notification triangle that includes an exclamation point above the left hand side of the histogram. (Or from the Settings -> Process Version file menu available in the Develop module) By default, all new files in Lightroom 3 beta will receive the latest process version.

Slideshow Export
One of the most elegant ways to present your images is in a slideshow accompanied by music. But until now, you could only share that slideshow with music when playing it directly from within the Lightroom application. But with Lightroom 3 we've added the ability to export high quality movie files that include your detailed layout and the music track you've selected. By utilizing the popular H.264 movie format you can share these movies on many popular video sharing sites or optimize it for mobile media!

Custom Print Package
Lightroom 3 adds a new custom layout option for photographers who need complete control over their print layouts. Add as many different images in whatever configuration you desire on a single or multiple pages.

Watermarking
Lightroom 3's new watermarking function lets you embed your identity or other information in your images themselves. You can apply text or graphic watermarks to a photograph with adjustable size, position, and opacity. Available in the Print and Web modules as well as the Export dialog, your identity can now travel with all of your images.

What's Next?
We're not even close to finished in terms of features, performance or image quality but we want early feedback on our improvements so that we have time to make sure Lightroom 3 is your ideal workflow assistant.

Additional Details
General

* On Mac, the 'hit zone' for the right scroll bar in the grid view has been expanded so that a closed right hand panel doesn't automatically open too easily. The automatic panel opening experience has been modified so that it takes a longer amount of time for the panel to open in cases of overshooting the scrollbar. (Mouse towards the white triangle for instant opening) Please provide feedback on this new behavior so that it can be modified or added to the Windows version of Lightroom.
* Images can be sorted by aspect ratio
* The catalog selection dialog has been expanded and improved


Library

* You can backup your catalog when you quit Lightroom instead of on launch
* A volume can be ejected or un-mounted from your system directly from the volume browser in the Library module.
* Collections can be created directly within a collection set by right-clicking on the collection set
* Images can be sorted by aspect ratio
* The name of a collection is displayed when an image is added to a target collection
* Stack badges can now be toggled on or off independently in the filmstrip via an interface preference
* Erasing with the spray paint tool now requires the use of the Alt key
* Select a folder in the Library module and choose a new option "Import to here" to launch the import dialog with that folder preselected as the destination
* The import dialog provides source folder and destination volume capacity information
* The option to include items from subfolders has been included in the primary Folder panel drop down menu
* Choose Library -> Show Missing Images to locate offline or missing files
* A lock icon has been added to the metadata filter bar in the Library module to make filter selections "global" across folders or collections
* An icon has been added to grid thumbnails to indicate that an image is part of a collection. Click on that icon to view and/or visit the collection
* Favorite sources can be added to the filmstrip source pop-up menu for quick access to specific collections or folders
* Flash state is now included as part of the smart collection filter criteria
* When the 'spray can' is used to add an image to a collection, the collection name is now displayed upon application
* The optimize catalog feature is now available in the File menu
* Lightroom now imports CMYK files. Any output, with the exception of export original, or adjustments to these images will take place in an RGB color space
* Filters are now longer automatically "sticky" on folders or collections


Develop

* Crop presets choices have been edited for clarity
* A checkbox has been added to the toolbar to turn on/off overlay visibility
* All adjustment brush and graduated filter sliders can be reset by holding down Option/Alt and clicking on Amount
* The color setting for the adjustment brush and graduated filter clearly display an 'x' overlay when no color is selected
* The Collections panel is now available in the Develop Module
* The targeted adjustment tool is deactivated when switching to a new Develop panel
* The local adjustment brush and graduated filter panel have been simplified to a single mode (Previously there was a button and slider 'mode')


Slideshow

* The music selection in the Slideshow module has been decoupled from iTunes on the Mac
* Click the track duration to sync the length of the slideshow to the length of the music track


Print

* Black or a custom color can be selected for a print layout background
* The Identity Plate can be moved in small increments by selecting it and using the arrow keys
* Match photo aspect ratio is now a persistent option in the Cell panel


Export

* The file extension case(UPPER/lower) can be selected in the export dialog


Full release notes are located here:
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom3/releasenotes.pdf

You can check some cool videos here:
http://tv.adobe.com/product/lightroom

And download the Mac and Pc versions at Adobe Labs here:
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom3/

Adobe Lightroom 2.5 and Camera Raw 5.5 Now Available

Lightroom 2.5 and Camera Raw 5.5 are now available as final releases on Adobe.com and through the update mechanisms available in Photoshop CS4 and Lightroom 2.

These updates include camera support for the following models:

* Nikon D300s
* Nikon D3000
* Olympus E-P1
* Panasonic DMC-FZ35**
* Panasonic DMC-GF1

**Note that in Europe and Japan this model is marketed as the DMC-FZ38. Unfortunately, due to a metadata difference between these cameras, files from the DMC-FZ38 will *not* be supported until the next Camera Raw and Lightroom updates.

Release Notes:

* Camera Raw 5.5 and Lightroom 2.5 include a correction to the demosaic algorithms for Bayer sensor cameras with unequal green response. Olympus, Panasonic and Sony are among the more popular camera manufacturers affected by this change. But the demosaic correction provides only a subtle visual improvement to the processing of those raw files.

* Lightroom 2.5 corrects for the following problem in Lightroom 2.4. Lightroom 2.4 on Windows continued to display the import dialog when a memory card was detected regardless of the preference setting "Show import dialog when a memory card is detected."

Direct downloads:

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.5 - Mac - Win
Adobe Camera Raw 5.5 - Mac - Win