Category: News

Back issues to 2002

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We have now expanded the archive of downloadable PDF files of our magazine issues, available to subscribers to Photoclubalpha, back to December 2002 with five issues of Minolta Image. The issues make a fascinating record of the transition from film to digital, and then from Minolta to Konica Minolta, and later to Sony.

The link to the Subscriber page which has active download links is: Subscriber Only Content but this can only be accessed by subscribers. To subscribe, visit Subscriber Registration.

The list of issues and their content (not including many portfolios, technique and travel or subject related features) is:

  • Photoworld 2 2011 (Spring – new flashgun and accessories, Alpha subaqua, Sony World Photography Awards, Nissin Di866 Mark II flash, Sony ultrawide and fisheye converters for NAX tested)
  • Photoworld 1 2011 (Winter – new Cybershots, Alpha in the studio, Kipon tilt adaptor for NEX, Alpha 580 test report, Duncan McEwan shoots the Commonwealth Games)
  • Photoworld 4 2010 (Autumn – photokina & Alpha 55/33, Alpha 55 test, 3D feature)
  • Photoworld 3 2010 (Summer – NEX 3 & 5 launch in  Croatia, full test, NEX lens adaptors, Alpha 390 and 290 announced, Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 HSM and 70-300mm f/4-5.6 OS)
  • Photoworld 2 2010 (Spring – SAM 30mm f/2.8 Macro, PMA 2010, Sigma EX DG 70mm f/2.8 macro, Delta TTL ringflash, Ray-Flash RAC175-2)
  • Photoworld 1 2010 (Winter – Alpha System 25 Year Silver Jubilee issue; Alpha 450)
  • Photoworld 4 2009 (Autumn – Alpha 500, 550 and 850 announced; Samyang 85mm f/1.4 test, HVL-F20AM)
  • Photoworld 3 2009 (Summer – Alpha 230, 330, 380 launch; Alpha 380 test, SAM 18-55mm, Sigma 18-250mm OS, 70-200mm HSM, 10-20mm f/3.5, 10mm fisheye)
  • Photoworld 2 2009 (Spring – Sony PVL-EW5 projector, rechipping Sigma 400mm f/5.6)
  • Photoworld 1 2009 (Winter – Sigma 12-24mm and 50mm f/1.4 on A900, tilt and shift adaptors, Teleplus 2X)
  • Photoworld 4 2008 (Autumn – photokina and Alpha 900)
  • Photoworld 3 2008 (Summer – 70-300mm SSM G lens test, HVL-F58AM)
  • Photoworld 2 2008 (Spring – Alpha 300 and 350 launch, 360° panoramas, HVL-F42AM, kit zoom lens choice, Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 LD Di AF Tele Macro test)
  • Photoworld 1 2008 (Winter – Alpha 200 launch, Alpha 700 shoots Cirque du Soleil)
  • Photoworld 4 2007 (Autumn – Alpha 700 launch, 16-105mm SAL lens, 18-250mm SAL)
  • Photoworld 3 2007 (Summer – Photoclubalpha launch, roadmap speculation, 18-250mm Tamron test, Lensbaby 3G)
  • Photoworld 2 2007 (Spring – 700/900 speculation with the wrong names, GPS CS-1 tracker, CZ 16-80mm test, flash choices, Loreo PC Lens In A Cap)
  • Photoworld 1 2007 (Winter – CZ 135mm f/1.8, 8mm Peleng)
  • Photoworld 3 2006 (Autumn – photokina, Apha 100 test, Sony DSC-R1)
  • Photoworld 2 2006 (Summer – the amazing Alpha 100 launch in Morocco)
  • Photoworld 1 2006 (Winter/Spring – the Sony takeover issue, 25 Years of Minolta Club, 18-200mm and 11-18mm KM zooms tested)
  • Photoworld 4 2005 (Autumn – KM 5D test, colour looks, Dimage Master software)
  • Photoworld 3 2005 (Summer – KM 5D announcement, Sony announce joint project, Dimage X1, Dimage A200, Jobo Gigavu Pro, Dimage Master techniques)
  • Photoworld 2 2005 (Spring – Dimage Z5, 28-75m and 17-35mm lenses tested on Dynax 7D, digital infrared with Dimage 7 and Dynax 7D, colour to mono conversions, using Dimage Scan Elite 5400)
  • Photoworld 1 2005 (Winter – Dynax 7D test, Minolta 16mm full frame fisheye)
  • Photoworld 2 2004 (Autumn – photokina and Dynax (Maxxum) 7D launch)
  • Photoworld 1 2004 (Spring-Summer, the first edition after the Konica Minolta merger, and the renaming of Minolta Image which we had published since 1981 back to its 1966-1980 title of Photoworld – mockup D7D shown at Focus on Imaging, Dynax 60 and 40 launch, Dimage Xt underwater, Konica Centuria Super colour film test, Dimage A2 test)
  • Minolta Image Winter 2003-4 (the last edition of Image before the end of Minolta as a separate company – Dimage Z1 test, Dimage E323 test)
  • Minolta Image Autumn 2003 (the A to Z of digital – Dimage A1 and Z1, Dynax 3L and Fujichrome Astia 100F test, A1 anti-shake test)
  • Minolta Image Summer 2003 (Dimage Scan Elite 5400 test, new 28-100mm, Riva Zoom 60, Dimage Xt test, Wireless Flash)
  • Minolta Image Spring 2003 (SSM 30mm and 70-200mm, converters, launched; F300 report)
  • Minolta Image Winter 2002-3 (incomplete but includes – Low Light and Fast Film, Digital Diaries, Dimage 7Hi test, Dimage Scan Dual III)
Minolta History, News

Adobe releases 6.3 and 3.3 raw with 560-580 support

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Raw conversion for the Sony Alpha 560 and 580 models is now available from Adobe. Adobe has released the final ‘cut’ of Lightroom 3.3 and Camera Raw 6.3, along with other improvements on December 7th and a Bridge update which was released a week ago:

Photoshop CS5 12.0.2 update

December 7, 2010
Windows | Macintosh

TWAIN Plug-in update

December 7, 2010

Camera Raw 6.3 update

December 7, 2010
Windows | Macintosh

DNG Converter 6.3 update

December 7, 2010
Windows | Macintosh

Lightroom 3.3 update

December 7, 2010
Windows | Macintosh

Adobe Bridge CS5 4.0.4 Update

November 30, 2010
Windows | Macintosh

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News, Software Reviews

Alpha 900/850 Firmware Upgrade

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A firmware upgrade that refines shooting responses and creative options for the α900 and α850 35mm full-frame DSLR cameras has been released by Sony. All new and existing customers are advised to install the upgrade, available to download from the ‘Support’ area of the Sony web site.
Autofocus is quicker and more responsive than ever, thanks to improved AF motor control and smarter distance detection of out-of-focus objects.
Creative options are extended by a broadened range of exposure value (EV) compensation settings, now increased from ±3EV to ±5EV. Selected compensation value is displayed in the navigation display on the main LCD screen of both cameras. This boosted EV compensation range gives extra headroom when composing extremely high- or low-key images.
Exposure bracketing range has also been increased from a maximum of 4.0EV (three shots at -2EV, 0EV, +2EV) to a maximum of 6.0EV (-3EV, 0EV, +3EV). This wider range gives added flexibility when capturing multiple frames at different exposure values – for example when acquiring images for the creation of powerful post-shooting HDR effects. Please note that the bracketing still does not include 1EV steps as an option (the widest range of ‘normal’ bracketing is 5 frames at 0.7EV) and the +/- 2 or 3 EV options remain as wide-spaced three shot sequences only; there is no provision for the most desirable HDR settings such as -3 to +3 in 1EV intervals, a seven-frame set.
As a further refinement, a new menu option allows shutter release to be enabled, even when the camera body doesn’t detect an attached lens. It’s useful for specialist applications such as astrophotography when the camera is attached to a telescope.
The latest firmware upgrade by Sony for registered α900 and α850 DSLR customers is available free of charge from the Sony EUROPE site for European owners.
Asia support server direct links:
Alpha 900 http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/product/dslr-a900/modelfirst
Alpha 850 http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/product/dslr-a850/modelfirst
Australian support server direct links:
http://www.sony.com.au/support/productcategory/dslr+camera
and see the ‘Latest Downloads’ tab
The US download was not available six hours after the announcement, but should be found through this page: http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=DSLRA900&SelectOS=50
These zip archives contain Unix (camera processor executable) files called DSCA850.APP or DSCA900.APP. These are the components which must be copied on to a newly formatted camera memory card. Once the camera is turned on with the Menu button depressed, as instructed, the update takes roughly 1 minute 30 seconds to complete, after which the camera displays a restart screen for about 15 seconds before rebooting.
There is some risk involved in using firmware which is non-specific for your camera’s region, but owners are not reporting any problems. Be aware that once you have installed the firmware, from whatever region, it is not possible to revert or to re-install your own region’s firmware. However, it seems likely that there is no difference between regional versions other than Japanese.

4
Cameras (DSLR), News

New ultra-fast, multi-terabyte memory cards on horizon

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November 30, 2010 — SanDisk Corporation, Sony Corporation and Nikon Corporation today announced the joint development of a set of specifications that address the future requirements of professional photography and video markets. The three companies proposed the specifications to the CompactFlash® Association (CFA)*, the international standards organization, with the intent to standardize the format.
Professional photography and High Definition (HD) video applications require a new generation of memory cards capable of processing significantly larger files. To address the imaging industry’s future speed and capacity demands, SanDisk, Sony and Nikon proposed a new card specification Continue reading »

2
Cameras (DSLR), News

€10,000 prize in French pro photo contest

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The Agency for the Promotion of Professional Photography in France (APPPF or A3PF), launches the 3rd edition of “The Photograph of the Year”. This contest is exclusively reserved for professional photographers living in Europe. 18 trophies will be awarded in March 2011, during a ceremony which will gather the 48 finalists (three per subject) of the sixteen categories awarded, plus the photograph of the year and a trophy of honour. For this third edition of the competition, Continue reading »

0
News, Uncategorized

Sony VAT-back offer – UK only

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Many Sony Alpha products are included in the Sony UK VAT-back scheme which will operate until December 24th. Items purchased from authorised retailers from October 28th onwards may be eligible for a claim, and Sony will return the equivalent of the 17.5% VAT paid to the customer directly.
This is not actually VAT back, as any item purchased in this way is still eligible for normal VAT relief on the nett amount paid, for UK VAT registered buyers (businesses). Customers outside Europe will be able to buy without VAT under the normal rules applying to exports.
On January 4th 2011, UK VAT increases to 20% for consumer goods including all the Sony range.
For details of the VATback offer, see:
http://www.sony.co.uk/hub/1237479399273
Sony point out that the VAT amounts to 14.9% of the price paid, not 17.5% (it is 175/1175).
The offer includes  NEX-5, Alpha 580, Alpha 55 and Alpha 33 plus two lenses – the 75-300mm SAL and the 50mm f/1.8 SAM. But you need to be very careful indeed when ordering, as the deal applies only to some very specific packages such as the Body Only for A580, A33 and A55 (if you can find it!) and exact kits such as NEX-5D with 16mm and 18-55mm or NEX-5A with just 16mm. You must check when buying whether the exact product number you are buying qualifies for the VATback.
Buyers internationally can also get similar discounts until December 31st – we note that B&H for example offers this NEX-5 kit with $150 rebate. That’s about the same as the UK VATback deal.

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Cameras (DSLR), Lenses - Alpha Mount, News, NEX System

Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 SD (IF) DX

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TOKINA lenses – the brand name for optical giant Hoya’s interchangeable range – have always been renowned for their tank-like build quality and resistance to plastic trends. They compare so well with Nikon’s own lenses it is hard to tell the difference by feel, and the current design also matches Nikon more than it does Canon.
The latest news is that Tokina is to introduce the 11-16mm ƒ2.8 in Sony Alpha mount. Tokina stopped making Minolta mount lenses shortly before their parent company Hoya acquired Pentax. On October 28th 2010, Kenro UK announced availability. B&H has the lens in Sony fit here. Continue reading »

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Equipment Reviews, Lenses - Alpha Mount, News

DxO plug-in offers Alpha-NEX HDR/multishot simulation

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DxO Labs today announced that a DxO HDR plug-in for DxO Optics Pro 6.5 will be released in November. The new DxO HDR plug-in will enable photographers to merge several RAW shots effortlessly to either capture a greater dynamic range in the scene or to reduce noise beyond the camera’s sensor capability.
DxO was already known to be working with Sony, and offers in-camera firmware programs. This Plug-In closely mimics the multishot HDR, Twilight or High ISO noise reducing modes of the NEX-3, NEX-5, Alpha 33 and Alpha 55. It may be related and perhaps we will see it one day as part of Sony’s raw conversion software suite.
High quality HDR to capture a greater dynamic range from multiple RAW shots
Even with high-end digital cameras, the sensor dynamic range limits make the capture of extremely contrasted scenes difficult for photographers who wish to keep both highlight details and opened shadows in their pictures. With the new DxO HDR plug-in for DxO Optics Pro, photographers can overcome this limitation by merging bracketed RAW images into a single image file capable of handling a wider dynamic range than a regular RAW image. Specially designed multi-shot HDR Presets will let photographers render this new image effortlessly with a broad range of intents from the most natural looking image to extreme creative styles.
DxO Optics Pro’s best of breed RAW conversion and optics correction, ensures optimal image quality. “The DxO HDR plug-in also provides automatic image alignment, needed to compensate for camera motion when shooting hand-held, and ghost removal, needed to account for moving objects within the scene.” said Cyrille de La Chesnais, Director Sales & Marketing for DxO Labs’ Photography business. “Photographers can even decide which instance of the moving object they want to keep in the final image.”
Noise reduction beyond sensor capability, from multiple RAW shots: in situations such as handheld telephoto or low light where low shutter speed is not an option, taking a burst of RAW images at the same exposure and merging them together with the DxO HDR plug-in proves to be an extremely powerful way to reduce noise beyond the sensor’s intrinsic capability.
“DxO Optics Pro’s best of breed noise removal applied on a merged photo, whose noise has already been significantly reduced by the virtue of merging photos, produces an image of outstanding quality,” said La Chesnais.
Availability and pricing
DxO HDR plug-in for DxO Optics Pro 6.5 for Windows and Mac is scheduled for release late November 2010 from DxO Labs’ e-store. Final pricing is not available.
System Requirements
2 GB RAM minimum
400 MB available disk space
To process RAW images larger than 20 MPixels, a 64-bit operating system with 4 GB RAM is strongly recommended
Windows :
Intel Pentium 4 processor or AMD equivalent (Pentium Dual Core or higher or equivalent recommended)
Microsoft Windows XP 32 or 64 bits, Windows Vista 32 or 64 bits, Windows 7 32 or 64 bits
Macintosh:
Intel-Mac
Mac OS X.5 or X.6

0
News, Software Reviews

NEX firmware upgrades released

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Sony has released the firmware upgrades which were promised at photokina for the NEX models NEX-5 and NEX-3, and the Alpha mount lens adaptor LA-EA1.

Photoclubalpha readers in Europe can download the firmware upgrade from:
http://support.sony-europe.com/hub/hub.html
Autofocus is now supported when using the NEX-5/NEX-3 with 14 lenses from the full range of A-mount optics by Sony and Carl Zeiss that includes telephotos, primes and zooms. Aperture settings can be maintained during HD movie recording, and system menu operation has been streamlined alongside other usability improvements. Registered NEX-5/NEX-3 owners will be advised of the free update via email.
Autofocus with A-mount lenses
Single-shot autofocus is supported with 14 optional A-mount SAM and SSM lens models3 when used with the optional LA-EA1 Mount Adaptor. Single-shot AF is also possible while in movie recording mode by pressing the shutter button halfway down. Support for AF operation with A-mount lenses also requires a separate firmware upgrade for the LA-EA1.
Aperture priority with video recording
HD video can be shot while maintaining constant aperture, either in A (aperture priority) mode or in iAuto mode with background defocus activated. This aids the simple creation of beautiful background defocus effects during movie recording.
Soft key settings
It’s possible to customise functions of two of the three soft keys on the camera’s rear panel. Functions that can be assigned include Shooting Mode, Shooting Tips, Precision Digital Zoom, ISO, White Balance, Metering Mode, Flash Compensation, DRO, Auto HDR, Creative Style, MF Assist and AF Area.
Menu start
When ‘Menu’ is selected, there’s now the option to display either the main menu screen or the last parameter set. This simplifies quick readjustment of recently-selected functions and settings.
MF Assist
An enlarged image portion can be displayed on screen with user-selectable duration while in MF (Manual Focus) Assist mode. MF Assist operation has also been improved. The previously-chosen magnified image portion can now be maintained when MF Assist is re-selected, making repeated checks of fine focus quicker and more convenient.
System requirements
PC: Windows XP SP3 (64-bit and Starter editions not supported); Windows Vista SP2 (Starter edition not supported); Windows 7
Macintosh: OS X Ver.10.5 or later
All platforms: Hard disk space: min. 200MB / RAM: min. 512MB.
Upgrade requires USB cable connection between computer and NEX-5/NEX-3.
Autofocus function is supported with these A-mount lenses:
SAM lenses
• DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM [SAL1855]
• 28-75mm F2.8 SAM [SAL2875],
• DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM [SAL55200-2]
• DT 30mm F2.8 Macro SAM [SAL30M28]
• DT 35mm F1.8 SAM [SAL35F18]
• DT 50mm F1.8 SAM [SAL50F18]
• 85mm F2.8 SAM [SAL85F28]
SSM lenses
• Vario-Sonnar T* 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM [SAL1635Z]
• Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM [SAL2470Z]
• Distagon T* 24mm F2 ZA SSM [SAL24F20Z]
• 70-200mm F2.8 G [SAL70200G]
• 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM [SAL70300G]
• 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM [SAL70400G]
• 300mm F2.8 G [SAL300F28G]
AF support also requires firmware upgrade for optional LA-EA1 Lens Mount Adaptor.
With an A-mount lens attached to NEX-5/NEX-3, autofocus takes approximately 2 to 7 seconds based on Sony measurement standards. Actual AF time with A-mount lens may vary depending on the subject and shooting conditions.

3
News, NEX System

Sony Photokina Press conference video – in full

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We filmed the entire Sony press conference at photokina. It is split into three sections about 7 minutes each. During filming using the NEX-5, the camera at one point started to show an overheat warning. At this point I should have moved the articulated screen away from the camera body, but did not want to interrupt a very important moment – the announcement of the A7xx. And that’s when it cut out, taking maybe 10-15 seconds for me to move the rear screen, wait a moment, and restart.
Here are the videos. They are all at 720p quality and uses the internal mic, not the add-on mic, as I was ‘travelling light’ for this conference.
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3


1
Cameras (DSLR), HD Video, News, NEX System
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