Latest Master Photo Digital edition
Master Photo Digital July/August 2009 is now on-line in digital form:
Free to read, lots of expensive seminars for UK photographers provided by Aussie and NZ visiting superstars – it’s just like cricket…
DK
Latest Posts
Alpha 500, 550 and 850
Sony’s September launch for 2009 looks set to include three new models – the Alpha 500, 550 and 850. The model numbers are confirmed by the usual backdoor leak, appearing in the registration database for SonyStyle USA in this case (Canada has been a past culprit, updating databases associated with their site before the product is officially released). However, only a few people know what these cameras will be, and they are limited by non-disclosure contracts.
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Fujifilm discontinue press 800 colour neg stock
Fujifilm Professional is to discontinue one of its slower moving lines of film, from September 2009 production of Fujicolor Pro 800Z will cease. The company has a limited supply of the film in stock, enough to satisfy demand until approximatively November 2009.
Fujifilm’s Product Manager for Professional Film, Russ Gunn, explained the decision: “We have decided to remove all formats of Pro 800Z from our range due to low sales volume. By streamlining our selection of Professional film we can ensure our strong selling lines are protected.”
Gunn continued: “Sales of our colour negative and transparency films are doing very well and there has also been a recent upturn in sales of our instant films. We will continue to support photographers who appreciate the quality and flexibility of real film with a range of marketing activities including the Fujifilm Distinctions Awards, the Fujifilm Student Awards and our online resource for film users, Choose-film.com.”
For further details on the Fujifilm range of Professional film visit, www.fujifilm.co.uk/professional
The Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 EX DG HSM Macro II
SIGMA redesigned their 70-200mm not long ago to change the EX version to DG, introducing new coatings which greatly improved microcontrast and eliminated digital camera sensor reflections. In 2008, this was further upgraded to the Macro II model with HSM sonic motor focusing, a new optical design capable of focusing down to 1 metre distance. In 2009 this became available, along with matched HSM-compatible 2X and 1.4X converters, for the Sony Alpha mount.
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Back-illuminated Exmor in new Sony HD Handycam
•Class-leading Exmor R™ CMOS Sensor plus Sony G Lens and BIONZ image processor for incredible HD imaging performance, especially in low light
•Optical SteadyShot Active Mode gives up to 10x less camera shake, now improved with ‘3-Way Shake-Cancelling*’ stabilisation
•Full HD recording on 64GB(CX520VE)/32GB(CX505VE) internal memory and optional Memory Stick
•Automatic geotagging of clips and still images by GPS
*World’s first to reduce camera shake in 3 directions during video shooting (as of July 2009, Sony Research)
•Optical SteadyShot Active Mode gives up to 10x less camera shake, now improved with ‘3-Way Shake-Cancelling*’ stabilisation
•Full HD recording on 64GB(CX520VE)/32GB(CX505VE) internal memory and optional Memory Stick
•Automatic geotagging of clips and still images by GPS
*World’s first to reduce camera shake in 3 directions during video shooting (as of July 2009, Sony Research)
It’s the very last word in HD picture quality, smart shooting features and stunning looks. The new flagship of Sony’s HD camcorder line-up, the Handycam® HDR-CX520VE/505VE is packed with latest innovations to help you capture better-looking video and still images, whatever you’re doing. Press release from Sony, July 7th 2009.
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Support for A230, A330, A380 in latest Adobe release
Adobe has added the latest Alpha model support to Lightroom and ACR before the cameras have become fully available worldwide – as they did with the original Alpha 100. Lightroom 2.4 and Adobe Camera Raw 5.4 final releases include raw conversion for the Alpha 230, 300 and 380.
To download the latest utilities (including DNG Converter, which converts the raw files to a form which earlier versions of Photoshop CS can process) visit:
http://www.adobe.com/downloads/
The updates are free but you must have recent versions of authorised software installed to benefit from them. The ACR Plug-In will also update Adobe Elements 7 (PC) or 6 (Macintosh) to work with the full range of Sony Alpha DSLRs.
We have run comparison ACR conversions on Alpha 900 files using 5.4 and the earlier Release Candidate (beta) version – there is no difference, output is bit for bit identical.
'Twilight Football' concept to boost Sony low-light reputation
Sony has come up with a zany idea to overcome problems in their reputation for high ISO and low light capability – showcase cameras, including the Alpha range with its legendary high ISO noise reduction, by shooting an essentially unphotogenic subject in almost non-existent light. But they are picking exceptional locations to do so. Sony Europe is currently obsessed by football, which for two decades Canon has claimed as its own territory.
What’s in it for photographers? Less than there is for amateur footie players, as it seems unlikely the public will be able to join the ‘specially selected’ teams of still and movie shooters.
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Tokina add in-lens motor to Nikon 12-24mm AT-X
Kenro has announced the UK release of the Tokina AT-X 124 PRO DX II, the new version of the acclaimed AT-X 124 PRO DX. The Nikon mount AT-X 124 PRO DX II features a built-in AF motor drive that operates smoothly and quietly due to a DC motor that uses a new AF control gear assembly. With the built-in motor, the lens can be used in AF mode with the Nikon D60 and D40 and other silent wave bodies. The Canon version of the lens already has a built-in AF motor.
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Kodachrome reaches the final frame
LONDON UK, June 22, 2009 – Eastman Kodak Company announced today that it will retire KODACHROME colour film this year, concluding its 74-year run as a photography icon.
Sales of KODACHROME Film, which became the world’s first commercially successful colour film in 1935, have declined dramatically in recent years as photographers turned to other, newer KODAK films or to the digital imaging technologies that Kodak pioneered. Today, KODACHROME Film represents just a fraction of one percent of Kodak’s total sales of still-picture films.
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Kodachrome reaches frame 39 – the end
LONDON UK, June 22, 2009 – Eastman Kodak Company announced today that it will retire KODACHROME colour film this year, concluding its 74-year run as a photography icon.
Sales of KODACHROME Film, which became the world’s first commercially successful colour film in 1935, have declined dramatically in recent years as photographers turned to other, newer KODAK films or to the digital imaging technologies that Kodak pioneered. Today, KODACHROME Film represents just a fraction of one percent of Kodak’s total sales of still-picture films.