Leica M9 Firmware Update: Version 1.116

Leica has announced the release of a firmware update for the Leica M9. Version 1.116 brings a number of fixes, improvements, and a new ISO setting-related vignetting correction. The update can be downloaded directly from Leica’s website here.

Specifically, the version 1.116 addresses the following:

Camera Performance

• Faster zooming into the last picture taken.
• Speed of SD card formatting enhanced.
• Image quality of “thumbnail” pictures improved.
• SD Card compatibility improved
• Magenta colour shift correction for the following wide angle lenses improved:
  M 18mm/f3.8 ASPH. (11649)
  M 21mm/f2.8 ASPH. (11135)
  M 24mm/f3.8 ASPH. (11648)
  M 28mm/f2 ASPH. (11604)
  M 28mm/f2.8 ASPH. (11606)
• New ISO setting-related vignetting correction: strong correction at ISO 160, lowest ISO correction at 2500, interpolated for intermediate ISO steps.

Other Changes

• Transfer of large data amounts to a Mac in USB-Mass storage mode.
• Sensor cleaning mode with battery capacity <50%.
• Function “Deleting all images” while zoomed picture is shown on screen.
• Function “Deleting all images” from a SD card with non-M9 pictures on it.
• Interrupting a long exposure by switching off the camera.
• Zooming into pictures with “Vintage B+W” setting.
• “Max aperture value” in EXIF data corrected for the following lenses:
  M 35mm/f1.4 (11869, 11870, 11860)
  M 50mm/f0.95 ASPH. (11602)
  M 50mm/f1.2 (11820)
  M 135mm/f3.4 APO (11889)
  M 135mm/f4 (11851, 11861)

SDHC card compatibility
The choice of SD and SDHC cards in the market is very large and is constantly growing. Therefore, Leica Camera AG is not able to carry out comprehensive compatibility and quality testing with all available cards in the market. We recommend the card types in the list below. Using other card types will not damage camera or card, but as unbranded cards may not respect the full SD or SDHC standards, Leica Camera AG cannot warranty full function with other cards than in the list.

• extrememory 4GB SDHC
• Hama SDHC 4 GB
• Kingston SDHC 4GB class2
• Lexar Professional SDHC 4GB 133x class6
• Lexar Professional SDHC 8GB 133x class6
• Panasonic SDHC 8GB class6
• PNY SDHC 8GB
• SanDisk Video HD 16GB class4
• SanDisk Extreme III SD 2 GB
• SanDisk Extreme III SDHC 4 GB
• SanDisk Extreme III SDHC 4GB 30 MB/s
• SanDisk Extreme III SDHC 8GB 30MB/s
• SanDisk SDHC 4GB class2
• SanDisk SDHC 8GB class2
• SanDisk Ultra II 16GB class4
• SanDisk Ultra II SDHC 2GB 15 MB/s
• SanDisk Ultra II SDHC 32GB class4
• Toshiba 16GB SDHC class4
• Toshiba 4GB SDHC class6
• Transcend SDHC 16GB class6
• Transcend SDHC 1GB
• Transcend SDHC 32GB class6
• Ultron High Speed SD 512MB

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Firmware Update: Version 2.0.3 brings 24 FPS and Audio Gain Control

Canon has just sent word that firmware version 2.0.3 is now available for download for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. This long awaited firmware update brings variable frame rates for 1080p video, including 24 fps, in addition both the 30 fps and 24 fps settings are now NTSC compliant (29.97 fps and 23.976 fps). That’s not all the firmware brings, as in addition to variable frame rates the new update adds audio gain control, a bump in audio recording quality to 48KHz, shutter and aperture priority mode recording options, and adds the option to see a live histogram while recording.

Get the version 2.0.3 update directly from Canon’s website here.
Canon has an article up with more information here: http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=3287

Firmware 2.0.3 For The Canon EOS 5D Mark II Coming in March

Canon sent out word this morning that the long awaited, oft rumored, and much anticipated new firmware for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II will be available this month. Firmware version 2.0.3 will bring 24p to the 5D Mark II:

2.0.3 meets the demands of both professional movie producers and aspiring filmmakers alike by adding 24p video acquisition and changing the 30p video frame rate to 29.97 to comply with TV production standards. In addition, audio capability is enhanced for professional use, adding manual audio level control, and increasing the audio sampling frequency to 48KHz from 44.1KHz

Yes we’re noticing the omission of 720p in that statement above, but I suspect many filmmakers will be happy with the above enhancements. Check out the poster announcement below.

Availability

Right now includes Lowepro Nova 170 AW Shoulder Bag (Chestnut Brown with Black Trim) & 2 x SanDisk 8GB Extreme CompactFlash Memory Card and free shipping for $2500. Canon EOS 5D Mark II (camera body only) at B&H Photo Get the Canon EOS 5D Mark II and support this site at the same time, by making your purchase through the links above at B&H Photo Video. Your purchases there help us continue to provide you with more great content.

Firmware Teaser

Canon has released a firmware update for the Canon EOS Rebel T1i. The new firmware aims to improve the reliability of live view shooting. Specifically:

Firmware Version 1.1.0 incorporates the following fixes and improvements.

• Enhances the reliability of Live View shooting
• Fixes incorrect indications on the Arabic, English, and Swedish menu screens

You can grab the updated firmware directly from Canon’s website here.

Nikon has released a firmware updated for the Nikon D3s. Version 1.01 addresses the following:

• Movie recording specifications have been modified as follows and an issue that, in some rare cases, caused movie playback to appear to have stopped has been resolved.
• When exposure preview is enabled in live view tripod mode, information + histogram display is possible, but the histogram is no longer displayed while movies are recorded.
• When the live view button is pressed with the Audio Video Cable EG-D2 connected, the image is displayed in both the television and camera monitor, but the camera monitor now turns off during movie recording.
• The camera monitor turns on again when the Audio Video Cable EG-D2 is disconnected from the camera.
• Some simplified Chinese menus and help displays have been revised.
• When some memory cards were inserted in the camera, “CHA” was displayed in the top control panel and images could not be captured.  This issue has been resolved.

The update can be downloaded from Nikon’s website: Windows |  Mac

Apple has announced the third generation of their RAW editing and workflow application, Aperture 3. This latest version adds “200 new features”, including Faces, Places, and Brushes, the latter of which allows for selective adjustments inside of Aperture.

Aperture 3 is available now at Apple’s website, www.apple.com.
Press Release follows.

Press Release

New Features Include Faces, Places & Brushes

CUPERTINO, Calif., Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple® today introduced Aperture™ 3, the next major release of its powerful photo editing and management software, with over 200 new features including Faces, Places and Brushes. Building on the innovative Faces and Places features introduced in iPhoto® ‘09, Aperture 3 makes it even easier and faster to organize large photo libraries. Aperture 3 introduces new tools to refine your photos including Brushes for painting image adjustments onto parts of your photo, and Adjustment Presets for applying professional photo effects with just one click. Stunning new slideshows let you share your work by weaving together photos, audio, text and HD video.

“Millions of people love using iPhoto to organize, edit and share their digital photos,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Aperture 3 is designed for both professionals who edit and manage massive libraries of photos and iPhoto users who want to take their photos further with easy-to-use tools such as Brushes and Adjustment Presets.”

“Aperture 3 gets it right,” said National Geographic photographer, Jim Richardson. “The image editing tools are exactly what I have been asking for, they’re so easy to use and give me a level of control that I never even thought possible.”

“I chose Aperture because it was the most powerful archiving application around, but it’s now an unbelievable imaging tool as well,” said Bill Frakes, Sports Illustrated staff photographer. “I am beyond impressed with the massive changes made in Aperture 3.”

Aperture 3 allows you to organize large photo libraries with even more flexibility using Projects and the new Faces and Places. Faces uses face detection and recognition to find and organize your photos by the people in them. You can view faces across your entire photo library or view just the faces that appear in selected projects. In a new view that speeds up the organization process, Aperture 3 displays faces that have been detected but haven’t yet been named. Places lets you explore your photos based on where they were taken, and like in iPhoto, Places automatically reverse geocodes GPS data into user-friendly locations. In Aperture 3, you can assign locations by dragging-and-dropping photos onto a map or by using location information from GPS enabled cameras, tracking devices or your iPhone® photos.

The new Brushes feature allows you to add professional touches to your photos by simply painting effects onto the image. Aperture 3 includes 15 Quick Brushes that perform the most popular tasks like Dodge, Burn, Polarize and Blur, without the complexity of layers or masks. Brushes can automatically detect edges in your images to let you apply or remove effects exactly where you want them. Aperture 3 includes dozens of Adjustment Presets that apply a specific style or look to the entire image with just a click. You can create your own custom presets or explore the techniques of other photographers by importing theirs.

Aperture 3 makes it easy to share your work with stunning slideshows that weave together photos, audio, text and HD video. You can select one of six Apple designed themes or choose your own transitions, background, borders and titles, and even add your own soundtrack. You can export your slideshows directly to iTunes® to take with you on your iPhone or iPod touch®. You can also share photographs as beautiful prints, create custom-designed hardcover books and publish to online photo sharing sites like Facebook and Flickr, right from Aperture 3.

Pricing & Availability
Aperture 3 is available through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) and existing Aperture users can upgrade for a suggested retail price of $99 (US). A downloadable 30-day trial version is available at www.apple.com/aperture/trial. Aperture 3 runs as a 64-bit application on Mac OS® X Snow Leopard® on Macs with Intel Core 2 Duo processors. Full system requirements, online tutorials and more information on Aperture 3 can be found at www.apple.com/aperture.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

© 2010 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, Aperture, iPhoto, iPhone, iTunes, iPod touch, Apple Store and Snow Leopard are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Canon has released a firmware update for the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV. This one might make folks nervous given that it’s AF related, but to me it looks like Canon is trying to stay firmly on top of any and all possible issues with this iteration of the 1D.

Firmware version 1.0.6 looks to address the following:

1. Firmware Version 1.0.6 enhances the AF tracking performance.*
   *AF performance has been enhances for receding subjects and for subjects that are approaching at a low speed.

Owners of the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV can dowload the update from Canon’s site here.

Olympus has released a firmware update for the Olympus E-P1.  Version 1.2 addresses the following:

• Reduced time of the MF ASSIST enlarged display to improve operability.
• REC VIEW enabled when the monitor’s backlight is set to off.

You can download this latest update by using your Olympus Master /Studio software, included with the camera.