Olympus OM-D E-M1 Event

Words by Reagan. Video and images by Daniel S

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 is a flagship micro four-thirds camera model that has received countless awards globally and rightly so. This compact gem is not only retro-styled in a tasteful manner, but also follows suit in packing a punch performance wise.

On Wednesday 8^th, our team were privileged to partake in a special Pro Specialist Event held by Olympus at the Hatch Productions Studio in Sydney where they showcased the hot new features and improvements in their v2.0 firmware upgrade for the E-M1 as well as a hands-on play with the highly anticipated 40-150mm PRO Lens (stay tuned for a mini blog review).

Check out the video we’ve put together of the event with Olympus expert Quett giving a brief overview of the new v2.0 software.

Key Improvements found in the OM-D E-M1 v2.0 firmware –

 

1. Keystone Compensation

    

   Allows for the compensation of horizontal and vertical skew that is often encountered when using ultra wide-angle lenses. This is a particularly useful feature for architectural photography. 
2. Complete Tethered Shooting

    

   Allows complete control of all of the E-M1’s fucntions through Olympus’ new and free

   ‘Olympus Capture’ app (available for both Mac and PC). This app can be integrated with Olympus Viewer 3, Phase One’s Capture One and the Adobe Lightroom workflow software. 
3. Live Composite
   Capture a single exposure up to a maximum of 3hrs without risk of overexposure. This is a useful feature for star gazers wishing to capture the perfect star trail. Also performs well for fireworks or lightning photography. 
4. Partial Colour & Vintage Art Filters
   The new Partial Art filter allows for the selective isolation of a particular colour while turning the rest of the image into monochromatic tones with three varying degrees of tolerance. This filter also works with video footage!
5. Photo Story Mode
   Adds two new layouts for additional collage creation flexibility. A temporary save and resume function allows for collages to be completed at a later date when required.
6. Old Film Effect
   Adds dust and scratches to your movie to give it an older classic look.
7. Aperture Lock Function
   Allows for the depth-of-field preview to be maintained without the need to continually hold the assigned depth of field preview button.
8. Panning Shot

A new panning feature has been added to the Scene Selection mode.

Here are a few images from the day. 

 

 

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Canon EOS 5D MKIII 1.2.1 Firmware Update Now Live!

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

The latest firmware update to the Canon 5D MK III has just been released and promises to further improve this awesome DSLR.  This is what Canon have to say about the latest update -

“The upgrade, which was first announced in October 2012, enables the use of the HDMI output functionality for more efficient video editing and monitoring workflows by professionals in the fields of cinema and TV production. With HDMI output, users can record HD uncompressed video data (YCbCr 4:2:2, 8 bit) to an external recorder via the camera’s HDMI terminal, supporting minimal image degradation during video data editing for greater onsite efficiency during motion picture and video productions. Additionally, video can also be displayed on an external monitor while being captured, for real-time on-site monitoring for HD video during shoots.

To further improve functionality, the upgrade improves the AF system with centre AF point now enabled at f/8 supporting the needs of photographers to achieve more from their camera when using fast super-telephoto lenses with extenders. Drastically increasing the shooting range, version 1.2.1 now makes it possible to use an EF600 f/4 lens and two-times extender to achieve a massive 1200mm focal length with precise AF performance. This will benefit sport and nature photographers who shoot over long distances. This upgrade also increases the range of lens options with full AF capabilities, including the EF400mm f/5.6 and the EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS with 1.4x extenders, for zoom ranges up to 560mm.“

The short version being that this update makes possible the use of the HDMI output for uncompressed video output and improving auto focus performance at smaller apertures i.e. f/8.

You can download the update from here .

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Pentax Announces Firmware Update for K-5 II/IIs DSLRs & Q Mirrorless Camera

The latest update addresses an issue in the K-5 II/IIs where some controls may cease to function on the status screen and also improves the overall stability.  The Q update fixes a minor issue with one of the Smart Effects filters.  Updates are now available from the Pentax website. 

 

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Latest Updates from LYTRO

The Lytro Light Field camera is still captivating audiences around the world, and naturally Australia is no exception. 

One thing we really like about the LYTRO company is their constant drive to improve the system, with yet another desktop software update available today. It's pretty great when you can experience the latest technology on offer without the need to upgrade the hardware huh?

This December 4th update allows users to utilize "Perspective Shift" and "Living Filters" in their light field images. 

Perspective Shift allows Lytro users to interactively change the point of view in a light field photo after it has been taken. Just like all Lytro images, both the photographer and the viewer can play with the perspective without the need for special software once the feature has been applied and shared. Pictures come to life and become an involved experience for the audience - it makes for a really neat way to tell your story.

So what about Living Filters? These allow the photographer to show off their creative flair and compose their art in even more ways to excite the audience. Lytro users will be able to apply one of nine interactive filters, including Film Noir, Crayon, and Carnival, to their living pictures to change the look of the picture based on light field depth.

These filters work on new shots as well as light field photos previously taken before the software update - woo hoo!

Check out a sample below, and see the Lytro Blog to update your desktop software today. 

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New Firmware for the Nikon Coolpix S800c Android Camera

Hey guys,

If you're the proud owner of Nikon's first Android camera, the Coolpix S800c, you'll be pleased to know the latest firmware is ready for you right now.

Firmware v1.1 enables the following modifications and resolves these issues:

1. Support for Hindi and Arabic has been added.

2. When a memory card inserted in the camera was ejected while an Android app saved to the camera’s internal SD card storage (internal SD card space) was running, operation of the Android OS sometimes became unstable. This issue has been resolved.

3. When the camera was turned on and then off, icons for Android apps saved to the camera’s internal SD card storage (internal SD card space) sometimes disappeared. This issue has been resolved.

4. An issue that sometimes caused unexpected termination of Wi-Fi connections has been resolved.

5. An issue that sometimes caused the camera to stop functioning when multiple Android apps were running has been resolved.

6. DPOF-compatible printers were sometimes unable to recognize information specified with print orders (playback menu>Print order). This issue has been resolved.

Enjoy!

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Fujifilm Firmware Updates for X-E1 and X-Pro1

Hey there Fuji fans,

The good folks at Fujifilm have just released some important firmware updates to their X-E1 and X-Pro1 compact system cameras. 

The X-E1 firmware update v1.01 addresses the following:

1) Addition of full compatibility with FUJINON XF 18-55mm F/2.8-4 R lens.
2) The auto focus accuracy with the XF60mm lens is improved.
3) When using the M- Mount Adapter, under exposure could occur.

The X-Pro1 firmware update v2.01 addresses the following:


1) Addition of full compatibility with FUJINON XF 18-55mm F/2.8-4 R lens.
2) When using the focus checking function with “3-time” magnification in manual focus mode,you could find a few dots (black or color) only in the live view image on EVF/LCD.

3) The auto focus accuracy with the XF60mm Lens is improved.
4) When using the M- Mount Adapter, under exposure could occur.

Firmware can significantly improve your experience, so check out the above if you're a proud X-series owner or are planning to be in the near future.

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Lytro: Now with Manual Control and Ren's Visit

As you would be aware from our excitement over the last little while, the amazing Lytro light field camera is now being sold by us in Australia and it is about to get even better.

If you have recently purchased your very own Lytro, you would be wise to install the latest firmware release. Why? Well, afterwards, manual control will be yours.

The latest firmware allows control over Shutter Speed, ISO Sensitivity, Neutral Density (ND) Filter and the Auto Exposure (AE) Lock. This gives you a whole new playing field for getting the most out of this revolutionary device.

The Lytro Blog has all the details, so get reading!

In other Lytro news, we were lucky enough for the creator, Ren Ng, to visit our Sydney store in Canterbury. Here he is with some of our cheerful staff (touch the photo to refocus like magic):

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Firmware Update for Fuji X-Pro1 and Fujinon XF Lenses

Never fear, the latest Fuji X-Pro1 firmware is here!

This is actually a significant development for X-Pro1 users and it would give you a rather huge upgrade in overall camera performance should you download it.

Now, a complaint of the initial Fuji X-Pro1 firmware was the apparent slowness of the system especially with start-up time and more importantly the autofocus. This firmware update once installed on the X-Pro1 and Fujinon XF lenses corrects this and much more, as explained in Fujifilm’s Press Release:

Sample Image from the X-Pro1

Improved Auto Focus¹ Speed

Auto Focus mode will offer faster focussing in challenging lighting conditions where light is low or bright. Focus distance has also been improved, allowing you to capture a great shot closer to the subject without switching to Macro mode.

Improved Manual Focus Performance

When turning the focus ring, the speed of the image coming into focus has been greatly improved. It is also much easier to focus when adjusting the focus ring using the electronic viewfinder or the LCD panel on the back of the camera, always displaying the image closer to full aperture with minimum depth of field.

Additional 3x Magnification for Checking Focus

An extra 3x magnification is now available with the new firmware, adding to the existing 10x magnification focus check on the X-Pro1. It is now also possible to find the optimum focus point when viewing the entire screen.

Improved Writing / Processing Speed

The new firmware provides improved writing speed to a memory card. At maximum speed the X-Pro1 can now write to a memory card twice as fast².

Improved Playback Speed

Image playback now takes less than one second after pressing the image playback button.

Additional Feature

The ISO setting now includes Auto (6400).

This is sure to make your shooting experience just that little bit smoother and more satisfying, while giving you the focusing speed and low light capability that camera deserves.

Users: For best results, update the firmware on both the camera and the Fujinon XF lenses at the same time.
Head on over to Fuji's support page for further information and the download.

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