The Digital Picture reviewed the new Canon EF 24-105mm F/4 L IS USM lens. Its conclusion is :

”The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens’ color and contrast are excellent. The rectangular baffle (above) over the rear of the lens is purposed to increase contrast and reduce flare/ghosting. CA (Chromatic Aberration) is well controlled with some CA visible at 24mm in very harsh contrast situations - mostly at full-frame edges.

Eight circular aperture blades provide excellent quality defocused image quality (bokeh - foreground/background blur). While f/4 in this focal length range is not the best at creating diffusely blurred backgrounds, close subjects at 105mm can have pleasingly defocused backgrounds.

Canon’s latest generation Image Stabilizer (IS) provides an additional 3-stops of handholdability in the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens. This is definitely my favorite feature of the 24-105 L. The 24-105 L’s IS is very quiet and very well behaved (does not jump when starting, …). IS does not stop subject motion blur, but it is excellent for stopping camera shake. IS allows use of narrower aperture settings to increase DOF (Depth of Field) in handheld shots with non-moving subjects (landscapes, sculptures, art …). IS allows use of longer shutter speeds to create motion blurs - such as moving water. “

Website : Canon EF 24-105mm F/4 L IS USM Review at The Digital Picture

Pixmantec announced the Release Of The Ultimate RAW Workflow Tool - RawShooter | premium 2006. RawShooter | premium 2006 provides unsurpassed RAW workflow and professional image quality at an unbeatable competitive price. In addition to a state of the art feature set, RawShooter | premium 2006 adds camera RAW support for several new DSLRs including the Canon EOS 5D and Canon EOS 1D II N. Key features include: RAW vs. RAW comparison; Integrated Downloader; FastProof; Image Formatting Toolbox; Curves/Levels; Magnifier; FastBrowse; Batch Renaming; Interpolation; Personalised Appearrance; Vibrance; Horiozontal Straightening; Extended Color Support. With an updated workflow oriented User Guide RawShooter | premium 2006 is the ultimate RAW workflow tool for all photographers no matter their level of expertise.

Website : Raw Shooter Premium 2006

Download : Raw Shooter Premium 2006 1.0.1 15-Days Trial

This firmware update (version 2.0.3) incorporates the following additions and improvements:

• Fixes a problem in color temperature information transmission that occurred when using Speedlite 430EX.
• Improves reliability in communicaion when using CF cards.

This fIrmware update applies to cameras with firmware versions up to 2.0.2 installed. If your camera’s firmware is already version 2.0.3, it is not necessary to perform this update.

Download : Download Canon 20D New Firmware 2.0.3

This firmware update incorporates the following improvements:

• Fixes the phenomenon of shots being unable to be taken when using the remote controller RC-1.
• Fixes the phenomenon wherein the camera continues to scroll through images being played back.
• Improves reliability in communication when using some CF cards.

This firmware update applies to cameras with firmware versions up to 1.0.2 installed. By installing this update, the phenomena will be fixed, and the affected cameras can be used without these problems. If your camera’s firmware is already version 1.0.3, it is not necessary to perform this update.

Download : Download Canon EOS 350 Firmware Update Ver. 1.0.3

Breeze Systems released DSLR Remote Pro v1.1 which allows Photographer to control Canon EOS 5D, 350D/Rebel XT, 20D, EOS-1D Mark II and EOS-1Ds Mark II cameras as well as the 10D, 300D/Rebel, EOS-1D and EOS-1Ds models.

Improve exposure control in tricky lighting conditions with DSLR Remote Pro’s unique ability to auto bracket up to 15 images with Canon DSLR cameras by varying either the shutter speed or the aperture. This greatly simplifies the taking of sequences of images which can then be combined to make High Dynamic Range (HDR) images in your image editor. This technique is particularly effective when taking interior shots or product shots without the need for sophisticated lighting. View color managed previews where color accuracy is critical. Previews may also be sharpened using the highly acclaimed HQ sharpening routines used in BreezeBrowser Pro.

The photo was taken with available light inside St Andrews Church, Sherborne St John, England using a Canon EOS 5D controlled from a laptop using DSLR Remote Pro.

Website : Breeze Systems DSLR Remote website

Download : Breeze Systems DSLR Remote 1.1 15-Days Trial

Apple Computer announces Aperture, a new digital photography workflow, organization and manipulation application aimed specifically at professional photographers. Featuring a RAW-focused workflow, Aperture makes RAW as easy as JPEG, letting you import, edit, catalog, organize, retouch, publish, and archive your images more effectively and efficiently than ever before.

Aperture supports the RAW formats from all leading digital camera manufacturers (including Canon and Nikon) and provides optimized support for such market leading cameras as the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II, Canon EOS 20D, and Nikon D2x as well as the highly popular Canon Digital Rebel and Nikon D50. It also supports the Adobe DNG format. Retail price is $499.

Website : Apple Aperture

Extensis Portfolio has long been a good way for graphics pros to organize images and other media so they can more easily manage those files for presentations or design comps on CD, DVD, via the Web, or from their own hard drive. With version 8, Extensis has enhanced and fine-tuned Portfolio by streamlining its interface and deepening its functionality so that you can work on images more quickly. Some of the new features in Porfolio 8:

Fast Cataloging: Fast cataloging quickly adds files to your Portfolio catalog in the background, allowing you to start working with them instantly.

Improved File Format Support for MS Office (coming soon), DNG, RAW, Quark,

Pro Video: Preview, index text and read metadata from the formats you use most, including: Microsoft Word and Excel files in Windows, full-screen previews from Adobe DNG RAW files, added support for current RAW files, and thumbnails and full-screen previews of Quark XPress documents (Mac).

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Most things in life are moments of pleasure and a lifetime of embarrassment; photography is a moment of embarrassment and a lifetime of pleasure.

- Tony Benn

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