Adobe Releases Lightroom 3.2 and ACR 6.2

Adobe has released final versions of Lightroom 3.2 and Camera RAW 6.2. You might remember that these were released in “Release Candidate” form earlier last month. The updates address a number of bug fixes, but more significantly add support for the following cameras:

• Canon EOS 60D
• Casio EXILIM EX-FH100
• Fuji  FinePix HS10
• Leica S2 (DNG*)
• 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
• Sony SLT-A55V

You can grab the downloads directly from Adobe’s website: LR 3.2 Windows | L3 3.2 Mac and ACR 6.2 Windows | ACR 6.2 Mac

Pentax USA offering 4 More Color Choices For K-x DSLR Camera

For those enamored with the Pentax K-x, and bored with the current black, white, blue, green, orange, and purple color options, well….good news. Pentax is now offering 4 additional colors in the U.S. market: chocolate, beige, olive and pink. The new options are now available at Pentax’s online webstore here, though honestly I don’t get what’s wrong with the basic black version (see link below).

Additional Media

Pentax K-x Digital SLR with 18-55mm Zoom Lens (Black) at B&H Photo Get the Pentax K-x Digital SLR with 18-55mm Zoom Lens (Black) and support this site at the same time, by making your purchase through the link above at B&H Photo Video.

Nik Software’s 64-bit Viveza 2 Update Now Available

Nik Software has now added 64-bit compatibility to Viveza 2 in a new update, and it is available as a free download for all current Viveza 2 owners. Viveza 2.003 can be downloaded by Windows and Mac users running relevant 64-bit environments, i.e. Photoshop CS5. You can get the update directly from Nik Software’s website, here.

Nik Software’s Viveza 2 Color/Light Control Plug-In at B&H Photo Get Nik Software’s Viveza 2 Color/Light Control Plug-In and support this site at the same time, by making your purchase through the link above at B&H Photo Video.

Adobe Releases Lightroom 3.2 and Camera RAW 6.2 Release Candidates

Adobe has now made available “Release Candidate” versions of both Lightroom 3.2 and Camera RAW 6.2. These release candidates are “well tested” but still not quite ready to be finalized, though typically they are quite stable. The new updates add support for several cameras:

• Casio EXILIM EX-FH100 (DNG^*)
• Leica S2 (DNG^*)
• 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

Additionally the updates add a quite a number of lens profiles to the lens correction feature, as well correcting or addressing a whole host of bugs and glitches.

You can grab the updates directly from Adobe’s website: Lightroom 3.2 | ACR 6.2

Topaz Labs Announces DeNoise 5: Twice as Fast as Predecessor

Topaz Labs has announced their latest generation of noise removal software, DeNoise 5. DeNoise 5 is claimed to be twice as fast as the previous iteration, and has new capabilitites like a “Correct Black Levels” parameter that removes color casts in shadow areas, in addition to now being more adept at removing both horizontal and vertical banding from very ISO shots.

DeNoise 5 is a free upgrade for existing DeNoise owners or retails for $79.99. You can also get a free 30 day trial from their website here.

Press Release

Topaz Labs Announces Major Upgrade in Image Noise Reduction Software

Topaz Labs Releases Topaz DeNoise 5, Twice the Speed

DALLAS – Topaz Labs announces a major upgrade of the Topaz DeNoise plug-in, which features a double increase in speed, double the maximum image size and many additional noise reduction capabilities. Powered by unique Intellinoise technology, Topaz DeNoise 5 specializes in quickly reducing heavy noise while preserving detail in high-ISO images.

“DeNoise 5 is twice as fast as its predecessor. It also introduces unique shadow tone restoration and dual-directional debanding capabilities, which enable photographers to solve additional problems caused by heavy noise,” said Dr. Albert Yang, President of Topaz Labs. “We’re very pleased to be able to offer these new noise reduction features to our customers.”

Nichole Paschal, photographer and Marketing Specialist for Topaz Labs, explains, “The new Correct Black Level parameter in Topaz DeNoise 5 restores image richness by removing hazy color casts that appear in shadow areas. It also eliminates both horizontal and vertical banding noise, often visible as lines that extend across high ISO images. With these two new features, DeNoise 5 now offers users the ability to solve more noise reduction issues than ever before.”

The new Topaz DeNoise 5 plug-in is the only commercial noise reduction software to remove high ISO noise while simultaneously recovering details, and now processes at twice the speed of earlier versions. It is a plug-in that works with a variety of host programs including Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Aperture, iPhoto and Lightroom. Topaz DeNoise 5 is a free upgrade for existing DeNoise customers and retails for $79.99. For more information about Topaz DeNoise 5, visit the homepage at http://www.topazlabs.com/denoise.

Firmware Updates for Panasonic Lumix Cameras: DMC-LX3, DMC-ZS3 (TZ7), DMC-ZS1 (TZ6)

Panasonic has released firmware updates for several of their Lumix digital compact cameras. The DMC-LX3, DMC-ZS3 (TZ7), and DMC-ZS1 (TZ6) updates don’t appear to correct or add any new features to the camera, instead for all three cameras Panasonic simply says the following:

Optimization of software processing.
*Change in software version has no effect on camera performance.

All of the updates can be downloaded directly from Panasonic’s website via the following links: DMC-LX3 |  DMC-ZS3 (TZ7) |  DMC-ZS1 (TZ6)

Pentax Releases New Firmware for K-7 DSLR

Pentax has released a new firmware update for their K-7 digital SLR camera. Firmware update version 1.10 adds a number of improvements to the K-7, including possibly improved focus speed during live view. Specifically, the firmware update adds, corrects, or improves the following:

Added Movie editing function on playback mode palette. You can divide a movie into multiple segments and erase unwanted segments from the movie. How to operate the function, Click Here.

Added Electronic Level indication on the Monitor

When Mode dial is set M or X and Electronic Level is set to display, exposure meter is indicated both of them in the LCD panel and in the Viewfinder

Added [Reversal Film] mode on Custom Image function [PENTAX Digital Camera Utility 4] have been updated. For update software, Click Here

When using Live View, auto focus activate by pressing shutter release button halfway. Also improved focus speed

You can download the version 1.10 firmware update for the K-7 directly from Pentax’s website here.

Pentax K-7 SLR Digital Camera Body at B&H Photo Get the Pentax K-7 SLR Digital Camera Body and support this site at the same time, by making your purchase through the link above at B&H Photo Video.

Canon Offers Firmware Update For EOS 7D

Canon has released a firmware update for their EOS 7D digital SLR camera. Firmware version 1.2.2 addresses the same movie recording bug recently corrected in other Canon DSLR firmware updates, as well fixing or correcting several other issues:

• Fixes a phenomenon in which the set aperture moves when shooting movies in manual exposure mode using some Canon lenses (such as macro lenses).
• Fixes the AF point-selection behavior of the C.Fn III-7 (Manual AF pt. selec. pattern) custom function when set to.
• Fixes the AF point display for the viewfinder electronic level when shooting in the vertical position.
• Corrects misspellings in the Spanish and Thai menus for applicable products.

The version 1.2.2 firmware update for the Canon EOS 7D can be downloaded directly from Canon’s website here.

Canon EOS 7D SLR Digital Camera (Body Only) at B&H Photo Get the Canon EOS 7D SLR Digital Camera (Body Only) and support this site at the same time, by making your purchase through the link above at B&H Photo Video.