clcarder.com photography & scientific illustration: what's new

What's New

New Nikon D700 on the way !!!! D3's Mini Me !!!

June 17th, 2008 - A very big and significant leak has happened last night. A new Nikon D700 is being reported out of China (original thread from Chinese forum). The leak comes from an employee at one of the printing companies Nikon hired to print the D700 literature. They also claim they were hired to print the D3's literature. If this is true, this is probably the last Nikon literature they print. I think this looks extremely legitimate. The pictures are not that great as they are all cellphone pictures, but you can definitely see it looks real. There is also mention of a new Nikon 45mm PC-E lens.

Judge for yourself, here are some pictures. Click on them to open up a another page with more pictures:

Canon 5D Mark II Field Guide available for preorder - finally real proof....nda!!

May 25th, 2008 - What is undeniably the best evidence so far that a Canon 5D Mark II will soon be announced an Amazon "leak" has posted a Field Guide available for preorder for the long awaited camera. The Field Guide which is written by a very well respected photographer, Charlotte K. Lowrie will be available for a November 2008 shipment. For those thinking that this is an Amazon.com slipup, you're going to have to explain the same guide popping up on Wiley's website as well.

Amazon.com link click here

Wiley Publishing Company link click here

Nikon D3X UDMA Compatible according to Sandisk

May 14th, 2008 - "Leaks" are starting to pop up online about the new Nikon D3X. The latest "leak" is from Sandisk. They stated on their UDMA website that the Nikon D3X was going to be UDMA compatible. They have since pulled the "leaked" information and everything is back to normal. Click here to check out the link.

Canon announces new firmware for Canon 1DMarkIII

April 29th, 2008 - Firmware version 1.2.3 for the Canon 1DMarkIII - I think it's finally fixed!!

From Canon's 1DMarkIII Website:

The following improvements have been incorporated.

Includes the following new features that were frequently requested by customers to the new firmware.

A. Direct selection of AF points by the Multi-controller is added to C.Fn III-9.

Settings 3, 4, and 5 of C.Fn III-9 allow the user to select AF points directly with the Multi-controller instead of the Quick Control Dial or Main Dial.

-In setting 3, you can select from all 19 points with the Multi-controller.
-In setting 4, your selection is limited to the 9 inner points with the Multi-controller.
-In setting 5, your selection is limited to the 9 outer points with the Multi-controller.

B. Alternate access to Exposure compensation is added to C.Fn IV-3.

Settings 3 and 4 of C.Fn IV-3 allow the user to control Exposure compensation when using the Quick Control Dial to control AF Point Selection or ISO Speed selection.

-In setting 3, AF point selection is controlled by the Quick Control Dial while metering is active. Additionally, the functions of the Exposure compensation/Aperture button and AF Point selection button are reversed, allowing easy access to Exposure compensation through the Quick Control Dial.
-In setting 4, ISO speed selection is controlled by the Quick Control Dial while metering is active. Additionally, the functions of the Exposure compensation/Aperture button and ISO speed set buttons are reversed, allowing easy access to Exposure compensation it while holding the camera.

With the camera’s External Speedlite control menu, Flash function settings can be used to set the Wireless setting and Zoom. *
*This is only for EOS-1D Mark III as it is already incorporated in EOS-1Ds Mark III from the initial mass production.

For details, please see the explanations on the new features (PDF file) that can be downloaded from the bottom of this page.

Improves the stability of AF accuracy in AI servo AF when shooting extremely low-contrast subjects continuously.

EOS-1D Mark III Firmware Updating Instructions
EOS-1D Mark III New Features Explanations (English/French/Spanish)
EOS-1D Mark III New Features Explanations (Japanese/English/Chinese)

Canon announces new firmware for Canon 1DsMarkIII

April 29th, 2008 - Firmware version 1.1.2 for the Canon 1DsMarkIII

From Canon's 1DsMarkIII Website:

What has been changed in version 1.1.2 of the firmware?

The following improvements have been incorporated.

Includes the following new features that were frequently requested by customers to the new firmware.

A. Direct selection of AF points by the Multi-controller is added to C.Fn III-9.

Settings 3, 4, and 5 of C.Fn III-9 allow the user to select AF points directly with the M ulti-controller instead of the Quick Control Dial or Main Dial.

B. Alternate access to Exposure compensation is added to C.Fn IV-3.

Settings 3 and 4 of C.Fn IV-3 allow the user to control Exposure compensation when using the Quick Control Dial to control AF Point Selection or ISO Speed selection.

For details, please see the explanations on the new features (PDF file) that can be downloaded from the bottom of this page.

Improves the stability of AF accuracy in AI servo AF when shooting extremely low-contrast subjects continuously.

EOS-1Ds Mark III Firmware Updating Instructions

EOS-1Ds Mark III New Features Explanations (English/French/Spanish)
EOS-1Ds Mark III New Features Explanations (Japanese/English/Chinese)

Canon raising prices on May 5th, 2008, no spring rebates for USA...yet!

April 29th, 2008 - Canon USA is informing all of it's authorized U.S. dealers to expect price increases on almost all of it's camera equipment. The 3-5% increases start May 1st, 2008. The increases are mostly targeted to Canon EF lenses and Canon EOS and PowerShot accessories.

Like almost everything in the USA, the letter dated April 24, 2008 from Canon USA states that the increase is due to "rising fuel prices" and "unfavorable exchange rates".

Unfortunately the USA is not the only one's to be affected, Canon Canada will also see an increase starting May 5th, 2008.

The USA is also the only region not to see Spring 2008 rebates, we are still hopeful though. If you are planning on purchasing any Canon lenses, now is not the time to hesitate. Check out the links page for a list of reputable dealers.

New Nikon D3 Firmware A 1.10 and B 1.11 update fixes corruption bug.

April 25th, 2008 - Nikon has updated the previous botched firmware of 1.10. This new release fixes the corruption bug of firmware 1.10.

From Nikon's Website:

New D3 Firmware release A: 1.10, B 1.11

On April 15, 2008, an announcement was made on the Nikon website that the Ver. 1.10 firmware update for the D3 digital-SLR camera was available for download. However, it was confirmed that when the following settings are applied with the updated firmware, image data may, in some rare cases, be corrupted. Therefore, we terminated the original firmware update download.

On April 25, 2008, we released an UPDATED firmware for download that will overwrite the existing version, and correct the issues found with the 1.10 version.

If you have downloaded the previous D3 Ver. 1.10 firmware update but have not yet updated the camera’s firmware, please do NOT perform the update. Instead delete the old firmware version and redownload the new version here.

Windows

Macintosh

If you have already updated the D3 firmware, please update your existing version using the same links above. When finished, your new firmware versions will be:

A: 1.10

B: 1.11

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused, and hope that you will continue to choose Nikon for your photography needs.

Nikon D3X , Nikon D90 Rumors in Japan.

April 24th, 2008 - Their are rumors floating around Japan according to Thom Hogan (www.bythom.com) that the replacement to the Nikon D80 and the Nikon D3X are coming in June. Their are also reported mumblings of new lenses, yet nobody has confirmed which ones. I will update with any new information as soon as I hear about it.

Nikon D3X is supposedly going to have 24.4 megapixels, which we learned from the firmware upgrade on the D3. The Nikon D90 which is what the replacement to the D80 is expected to be called has no leaked specs just yet. I will update as soon as I know anything else. Read all about it by clicking here.

There is another rumor that Nikon has a D10 which is the consumer FX model coming out this year. Again, their is no confirmation and this might simply be internet fun. I will update with any new info.

How to install Custom Picture Controls with Capture NX tutorial completed.

April 18th, 2008 - I have completed a tutorial explaining how you load custom picture controls and curves in your Nikon dSLR using Capture NX. The tutorial is complete with pictures and I tried to write it as detailed as possible. If you still have any questions after reading it, please email me and I will hopefully be able to answer them.

Click here to go to the tutorial.

Canon 5D Mark II 16 Megapixels in June?

April 18th, 2008 - I am not a fan of rumors, but it seems that this was posted on Canon's website in "error". The long awaited replacement for the extremely good Canon 5D dSLR is beginning to surface.

This is a screen capture from Canon's German website that shows the Canon 5D Mark II and it states a scheduled release of June, 2008. The screen capture also states that it is going to have an impressive 16 megapixels and that it will be able to shoot at 6.5 frames per second thanks to the Digic III processing engine. No wording on the price.

Again, this is NOT CONFIRMED and like always, we'll have to wait until the official Canon announcement to confirm. Look at the bright side, if it is scheduled for June, it's not too far away then!

Click here to enlarge (right click and choose Save Target As if you would like to download it to your computer)

Nikon has confirmed the Nikon D3 Firmware corruption.

April 18th, 2008 - Nikon has terminated the Nikon D3 Firmware 1.10. The advisory states that the problem occurs when the camera is set to capture RAW or RAW + JPEG images or 14-bit NEFs at 9 fps. If you shoot 12-bit NEF or change the rate to 8 fps or less there is no evidence of file corruption according to the advisory.

Nikon expects to release an updated firmware with the bug fixed by the end of April, 2008.

Click here to read about it on Nikon's website.

New Nikon D3 Firmware 1.10 - But wait before you download!

April 17th, 2008 - Nikon has made available new firmware (v 1.10) for their flagship Nikon D3 dSLR. The firmware update adds:

- A Vignette control item has been added to the shooting menu. For information regarding supported lenses, see the supplemental manual.
- A Focus point brightness item has been added to the a6: Focus point illumination setting in the Autofocus category of Custom Settings.
- The Highlights playback display option has been moved from Display mode>Basic photo info>Highlights in the playback menu to Display mode>Detailed photo info>Highlights.
- When shutter speed and/or aperture are locked with shooting in live view mode, using the “L” (command lock) button, an “L” icon is now displayed in the camera monitor.
- The size and color of “Demo” displayed in the monitor with playback, when No memory card? in the Custom Settings is set to Enable release, have been modified.
- The range of settings available for ISO sensitivity settings>ISO sensitivity auto control>Minimum shutter speed in the shooting menu has been increased from 1/250–1 s to 1/4000–1 s.
- When a compatible Speedlight or Wireless Speedlight Commander is used, the AF assist illuminator now lights regardless of the focal length.
- When shooting in hand-held live view mode and the frame is magnified prior to autofocusing, operation has been modified so that display returns to the magnified display rather than full-frame display.
- In some rare cases, the image area visible through the viewfinder and the image area actually recorded differed when Image area>Choose image area in the shooting menu was set to DX format (24x16). This issue has been resolved.
- In some rare cases, white balance was not accurately calculated for images captured at a shutter speed of around 1/4 s in P and A exposure modes. This issue has been resolved.
- When attempting to crop images at an aspect ratio of 4:3 using the Trim option in the retouch menu, the cropped image did not have an accurate 4:3 aspect ratio. This issue has been resolved.

A pdf explaining the changes is available here.

But wait!! If you are a sports shooter or require long burst rates (10 to 15 shots), their have been reports of photo corruption after updating the Nikon D3 to version 1.10. Click here to read all about it and see some examples. I am never an early adopter of firmware. I always give it a couple of weeks before upgrading. I recommend you do the same, unless there is something you just have to have that the firmware offers.

If you would still like to download it, you can get it here: MAC Windows (Nikon has terminated this download)

New Nikon D3X = 24.4 Megapixels!

April 16th,2008 - Rumors are going to begin floating around in full force after Engadget.com is claiming a hacker has discovered hidden code in the new Nikon D3 firmware. The code mentions a Nikon D3X and it's whopping 24.4 megapixel resolution. Could this fantasy dSLR become a reality?
A couple things are for sure if the Nikon D3X does materialize. You're going to need more memory cards , more hard drives, possibly a new computer and lots and lots of cash. Click hereto read how all of this got started on the dpreview.com forum.

At 24.4 megapixels you're going to need a couple things - memory cards, hard drives and good old cashola.

Nikon Capture NX 1.3.3 update

April 16th, 2008 - Nikon Capture NX 1.3.3 update is now available for US customers.

Nikon Capture 1.3.3: Windows MAC

I've downloaded and installed it with no problems. Biggest bummer is still no noticable speed increase. As I post my CaptureNX review, I will update it to include the new features of this version.

Adobe Lightroom 1.4.1 & Camera RAW 4.4.1 update

April 15th, 2008 - Adobe has released updates to Lightroom and Camera RAW that fix the bugs that were part of the 1.4 update. Click here to read all the details.

Adobe Lightroom 1.4.1 update: MAC Windows

Adobe Camera RAW 4.4.1 update: MAC Windows

I love Adobe Lightroom. If you have not had the pleasure of working with it, you can download a free 30 day trial (MAC Windows) to see if it works for you

Adobe also released Lightroom 2 BETA (click here) which is a sneak peak of what's to come. Although BETA software isn't fully tested, my version is running without a hitch and it's running parallel to version 1.4.1. The only thing missing that I would really like to see is network support.

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