Popular Photography+ launches for the iPad!

Popular Photography +, the official iPad edition of the magazine, launched today and is available for a special introductory price of $2.99 an issue—download it now from the iTunes App Store!

The July, August and September issues are all available for download. 

Popular Photography + is built on Bonnier Corp’s propriety Mag+ platform for tablet devices, developed by Bonnier’s global R&D task force and BERG, a London-based design firm. The App features pages that are easy to browse and to read, allowing users to enjoy the tips and techniques for great photos, authoritative product reviews, and passion for inspiring creativity that the magazine is famous for.

Popular Photography + represents Bonnier Corp’s second magazine to launch on the iPad, following Popular Science. For more info check out:  magplus.com/popularphotography.

Tamron gives away 2 lenses a day for 60 days

To celebrate their 60^th anniversary, Tamron USA will be giving away two lenses a day for 60 days, starting September 1^st and ending October 30^th. To enter, simply sign up for their email newsletter (open to US residents only).

Drawings will be held each day and winners will be picked from the pool of eligible E-News subscribers. A total of five prizes will be given out each day including an SP 70-300mm Di VC USD zoom lens, and an 18-250mm Di II All-In-One Zoom Lens.

For a full list of prizes and to sign up for the newsletter, head on over to: Tamron Giveaway

Apple's new iOS 4.1 Gives iPhones Built-in HDR

With Apple's updated iOS 4.1, iPhone users can now create HDR images directly in their camera app. Apple.com

The theme of today’s annual Apple press conference may have been music, but there were also a few photography-oriented announcements dished out by Steve Jobs.

Apple’s updated mobile operating system, iOS 4.1 gives iPhone users a whole slew of new features, including an HDR feature, which is integrated directly into the camera app.  Like most automatic HDR modes, it takes three bracketed images and combines them into a single picture.

iPhone video shooters will also be able to upload their HD videos directly to the web from their device, as long as they have access to a WiFi connection.

The hugely popular iPod touch also got some optical updates, taking its total camera count from a zero up to two. Like on the iPhone, the rear-facing camera captures 720p HD video, which can be edited in the device using a mobile version of iMovie. The front-facing camera is meant for utilizing Apple’s WiFi-only video chat feature, FaceTime. Not only can you talk to other iPod touch users, but you can also get face-to-face with iPhone 4 users as well.

Ipad users will have to wait until November for iOS 4.2 to hit, at which point they’ll have access to the brand new Print Center app, which makes it even more valuable to the corporate set.

Panasonic announces two new high-speed SDHC cards

www.Panasonic.com

Panasonic announced the production of two new high-speed Class10 SDHC memory cards—the RP-SDY08G (8GB) and the RP-SDY16G (16GB).  Both cards boast read speeds of up to 60mb/s (more than 2x faster than their current cards) conforming to the new UHS-I standards and making them a good choice for full HD or even 3D video recording.    

Continuing the legacy of other Gold model Panasonic cards, both the RP-SDY08G and the RP-SDY16G incorporate Panasonic’s Super Intelligent Controller technology, which provides high-level date protection.  Additionally, a Power Failure Protection function ensures that if a power loss occurs in the device at use, data will be preserved.

Both cards will be available this November.    

Adobe releases updates for Lightroom 3.2 and Camera Raw 6.2

Adobe announced the final release of Lightroom 3.2 and Camera Raw 6.2—the update provides raw support for newly released cameras and corrects bugs found in earlier versions of the program. Plus, Lightroom even gets a few new features.

Both programs now provide support for the following new cameras: Canon EOS 60D, Casio EXILIM EX-FH100, Fuji FinePix HS10, Leica S2, Panasonic DMC-FZ100, Panasonic DMC-FZ40 (FZ45), Panasonic DMC-LX5, Pentax 645D, Samsung NX10, Samsung TL500 (EX1), Sony A290, Sony A390, Sony Alpha NEX-3, Sony Alpha NEX-5, Sony SLT-A33 and Sony SLT-A55V. This Adobe Blog has the full list of newly supported lens profiles.

The update also allows Lightroom users to publish images directly to Facebook or SmugMug, allowing Adobe to catch up to Apple’s competing Aperture 3 software, in terms of web integration features.

To apply the update, you can use the in-program update process or grab it from Adobe.com. Feel free to post your thoughts about the new software in the comments.

 

Olympus Announces Black-on-Black E-P2 Kit and 2 New Lenses

If a camera lets us make the pictures we want to make, it can be as ugly it wants to be. But, the already-beautiful E-P2 is getting a style upgrade in the form of a matching black M.Zuiko Digital ED 17mm kit lens and FL-14 flash. Both are otherwise the same as their silver predecessors and the kit will start hitting shelves (in limited supplies) starting in October and carrying a price of $999.

Those who have already bought into the Olympus PEN system will inevitably be more excited about the announcement of two new lenses: The M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300 MM F4.8-6.7 (150-600mm equivalent) and M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150MM F4.0-5.6 (80-300mm equivalent). Both lenses use extra-low dispersion glass and are capable of "silent" autofocus.

NJIT professor captures most detailed image of sunspot ever taken

http://www.cieletespace.fr

New Jersey Institute of Technology professor Philip R. Goode and his team of researchers have achieved “first light,” capturing the most detailed photograph of a sunspot ever taken.

The image was made using a 1.6m clear aperture on an off-axis New Solar Telescope (NST) at the Big Bear Solar Observatory in California. The telescope used is the largest of its kind and has a resolution capable of covering 50 miles of the Sun’s surface.

Goode and his team used a 97-actuator deformable mirror—in what is called adaptive optics—to correct distortion resulting from photographing through the atmosphere. By summer 2011, the team plans to upgrade the deformable mirror to allow for even clearer images.

The New Solar Telescope is also being used as a “pathfinder” for an ongoing project to develop a far more powerful telescope known as the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST), set for construction over the next decade.

Images like the one captured by the NST are important to researchers because they provide valuable data on magnetic structures like sunspots, which are often a key factor in space weather—a phenomenon that can disrupt power-grids on earth, destroy satellites, or even bombard air-travelers with unsafe levels of radiation.

The photo was originally published on the science website “Ciel et l’Espace” as their photo of the day.

 

From: PopSci.com

Fujifilm halts production of Fujichrome Sensia

www.Fujifilm.com

As the digital-age continues to push forward, the list of film-era casualties continues to grow—if the death of Kodachrome wasn’t depressing enough, Fujifilm has now halted production of Fujichrome Sensia film, sighting high production costs and low global demand.

Previously available in ISO 100, 200 and 400, production of the popular slide film grinded to a halt in early August. Sensia is touted on the Fujifilm Web site as an, “All-round color slide film for every outdoor shooting situation: snapshots, landscapes, and portraits. Fine grain, brilliant and natural colors.”

Despite the halting of Sensia's production, Fujifilm assures that both Fujichrome Provia and Fujichrome Velvia will continue to be produced into the future.  Additionally, enough Sensia film should be out there to meet consumer demands until about December, Fujifilm said.

The film is still easily available at most established photography stores and retailers, so be sure to stock up quick!

 

From: The British Journal of Photography

Ricoh unveils G700, a true on-the-job camera

www.Ricoh.com

Ricoh announced the launch of the G700, a water, dust, shock and chemical resistant camera meant for tough conditions and on-the-job use. 

The G700 can withstand the shock of being dropped from heights of up to two meters and is able to shoot underwater at depths of up to five meters for two hours. The unit is also resistant to chemicals like ethanol and hypochlorous acid. Other practical features include: various security functions that allow for password-protection, oversized buttons for ease of use when wearing gloves, and a barcode scanner and reader.

While many of the features of the G700 were seen in its predecessor, the G600, useful updates like its chemical resistance allow for the camera to be cleaned with disinfectants without damaging it—this makes it ideal for professionals working in industries and locations where hygiene is essential, such as medical facilities, factories or disaster areas.

The 12.1 megapixel camera features a 5x optical zoom (28-140mm lens equivalent), a high ISO of 3200, a 3-inch LCD screen, and a built in flash effective up to ten meters away. 

For more information on the Ricoh G700, head on over to: Ricoh

Canon unveils 120-megapixel APS-H CMOS sensor

Craving a camera with more pixels?  Well, perhaps Canon’s new 120-million pixel sensor will suit you well. That’s right, the folks over at Canon have developed a 13,280 x 9,184 pixel, 29.2mm x 20.2mm sensor. 

Currently there are no plans yet for the 120-megapixel sensor to make its way into a camera anytime soon.  However the APS-H CMOS sensor does have potential for use in medical imaging as well as cinematography. 

In addition to setting the record for highest resolution of any sensor commercially available, the Canon monstrosity can also deliver full HD video—using only 1/60^th of its total surface area—as well as continuous shooting at 9.5fps. 

For more information check out: Canon