A new firmware version for the Leica S2 is available free of charge for all registered S customers in our owners´ area.

Thanks to our close cooperation with professional photographers, we are always well informed about our clients' needs and wishes, as you will see in the improvements of our firmware for the S-system. The new update FW 1.0.0.24 offers a range of interesting and helpful improvements.

From now on, lossless DNG-compression is possible, which reduces the file-sizes and increases the burst-rate capability. Further new features are a new maximum exposure time, shutter speed section in bulb mode and a setting option in highlight and shadow level warning.
Also, there are improvements towards the histogram display, the legibility of the display, memory card compatibility as well as setting option for the memory button. Not least the increase of autofocus precision, which improves the focusing on very small picture details, speaks for the update FW 1.0.0.24. As of now, registered clients can download the update at the Leica owner's area, as a matter of course for free.
TO THE OWNERS´AREA

Should I work for free?—a flowchart

This is a great little item that is getting passed along in just about every photo forum and photo related web site and it's well worth passing along here too with credit to it's author Jessica Hische  http://jessicahische.com/spendstoomuchtimeinternetting/

Click the image to view it larger.

Invitation to submit entries for the ‘Leica Oskar Barnack Award’ photographic competition 

Solms, Germany (January 12, 2011) - Leica Camera AG invites professional photographers to submit entries to the ‘Leica Oskar Barnack Award,’ an international photography competition. Photographers wishing to take part may submit their entries online from January 15, 2011 to March 1, 2011 at www.leica-oskar-barnack-preis.de. This year, the value of the competition prizes has significantly increased, with the award winner receiving their own piece of Leica history.   

For the first time, the winner of the ‘Leica Oskar Barnack Award’ will receive a Leica M9 camera and a lens worth 9,500 euros (approximately $12,300) in addition to a cash prize of 5,000 euros (approximately $6,500). For the ‘Newcomer Award,’ open to all (aspiring) professional photographers aged 25 and under, the award has also been increased. The winner will receive a Leica M9 camera and a lens.  

Competition entry conditions: An international jury awards the ‘Leica Oskar Barnack Award’ / ‘Leica Oskar Barnack Newcomer Award’ to photographers whose unerring powers of observation capture and express the relationship between humans and the environment in graphic form in a sequence of up to 12 images. Entry submissions must be a self-contained series of images in which the photographer perceives and documents the interaction between humans and the environment with acute vision and contemporary visual style – creative, unobtrusive and groundbreaking.

The competition is a memorial to Oskar Barnack (1879–1936), the inventor of the Leica. From 1914 on, he increasingly used the prototype camera he developed, today known as the Ur-Leica, for photography. The history of photojournalism is closely tied to his invention, as, beginning in 1925, the compact and easily carried Leica cameras were instrumental in enabling entirely new and expressive forms of photography.  

The terms and conditions of entry can be downloaded at www.leica-oskar-barnack-preis.de.

Jeff Cable from Lexar shows us how to use SSD drives and Crucial memory to speed up our computers and increase a photographers digital work flow and save time.

Mad Props to Adobe.

We are interviewing digital techs with at least 2 years of on set experience for freelance and full time positions. in depth knowledge of Capture One and Leaf are mandatory, experience with other capture software a plus. should have working knowledge of the following camera systems: Hasseblad 555, H-Series with any Phase One back, Canon 1ds-Mark II and Mark III or Nikon D3. must be familiar with Mac OS X, basic color correction, Epson printers, file management techniques, basic computer networking concepts, troubleshooting camera systems and computer hardware.

by email:  info@shootdigital.com
(attach resume in Word or PDF format)

by mail:
shootdigital
23 east fourth street
new york, ny 10003

by fax:  +1 212 353-0367

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

Part 1

1ProPhotoTV.Com interview with Boston portrait and location photographer Lou Jones.

Part 2

1ProPhotoTV.Com interview with Boston portrait and location photographer Lou Jones.

Part 3

1ProPhotoTV.Com interview with Boston portrait and location photographer Lou Jones.

Part 4

1ProPhotoTV.Com interview with Boston portrait and location photographer Lou Jones.

Lexar Media Introduces the First 128GB Professional Secure Digital Extended Capacity Memory Card for Photographers and Videographers

High-Capacity Lexar Professional 133x SDXC Cards Offer High-Speed Performance for Capturing, Storing, and Managing Extensive 1080p HD Video

Key Messages:

• 64GB Class 10 SDXC™ card and industry-first 128GB Class 10 SDXC card provide massive storage capacities and professional-level performance for capturing more of the memories that matter
• Minimum guaranteed speed of 133x accelerates the professional workflow by providing quick transfer of high-resolution images and HD video from the card to the computer
• Professional-level performance supports the advanced image- and video-capture capabilities of the newest digital SLR cameras
• Includes the latest version of award-winning Image Rescue® software for valuable peace of mind

Multimedia Elements:

• Lexar Image Gallery
• Supporting Product Info

Las Vegas, NV, January 3, 2011 – Lexar Media, a leading global provider of memory products for digital media, today announced new Lexar® Professional Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC)  memory cards. The new high-capacity Lexar Professional 133x SDXC cards enable the capture, storage, and transfer of extended lengths of 1080p high-definition (HD) video and continuous, rapid-fire image capture in a single, high-performance solution. The Lexar Professional 133x SDXC card is the first available in a 128GB capacity, and is also offered in a 64GB capacity. Both cards are speed rated at 133x, providing a minimum guaranteed transfer speed of 20MB per second, and feature a Class 10 speed designation. For additional information about Lexar Professional SDXC cards, visit www.lexar.com.

“The professional photography industry is at a point where digital photo- and video-capture methods are converging, meaning that professional shooters need a memory solution with the versatility and reliability to safely store both photos and videos,” said Pachi Chen-Wong, senior product marketing manager, Lexar Media. “The 64GB and 128GB Lexar Professional 133x SDXC cards combine high-speed performance with large capacities to offer solutions for professionals who shoot large volumes of high-resolution images and HD video.”

The Lexar Professional 133x SDXC memory cards are compatible with all SDXC-enabled devices. The cards include the latest version of award-winning Image Rescue software to help recover lost or deleted photo and video files. Professional photographers can now capture, store, and manage more of the photo and video content critical to their livelihoods.

Lexar Professional 133x SDXC cards provide consumers with the quality and reliability they have come to expect from Lexar Media. All Lexar product designs are tested in the Lexar Quality Labs, a group of facilities where all Lexar product designs undergo extensive testing to ensure performance, quality, compatibility, and reliability with more than 800 intended digital devices.

The Lexar Professional SDXC cards include a limited lifetime warranty and free, dedicated professional technical support. The new 64GB and 128GB Lexar Professional SDXC memory cards will be available in the first quarter of 2011 at leading retailers and on Lexar.com, with MSRPs of $399.99 and $699.99, respectively.

Solms, Germany (December 22, 2010) - Leica Camera AG has released a new firmware update for the Leica S-System. All LEICA S2 and S2-P cameras will now be supplied with the latest firmware version. Users wishing to bring their camera up-to-date can now download the firmware update from the “Owners Area” on the Leica website and take advantage of the latest improvements.

“Our close cooperation with photographers gives us not only an opportunity to constantly develop and improve the Leica S-System, but also allows us to address the precise needs of professional photographers. Therefore, the latest update, FW 1.0.0.24, includes quite a number of suggestions and wishes determined during discussions with professional users. The result is a wide range of improvements for applications, features and functions as well as the handling of the S2,” reports Stephan Schulz, product manager for the Leica S-System at Leica Camera AG.

The FW 1.0.0.24 firmware update enables a multitude of enhanced camera functions. These include, for instance, lossless DNG compression. This offers particular benefits by reducing file sizes from around 75MB to around 40MB and increasing the burst-rate capability to 14 consecutive exposures (at 1.5 frames per second). Both of these factors depend on the image content. At the same time, DNG compression leads to faster file-saving and transfer times when shooting tethered. Further new features of the firmware update are a new maximum exposure time of 125 seconds, shutter speed section in bulb mode (with the new firmware, the setting wheel can now be used to select the shutter speeds directly) and a setting option for highlight and shadow level warnings.

Existing camera functions have also been improved in the firmware update FW 1.0.0.24. This applies, for instance, to the histogram display in automatic review mode. This display option has now been enlarged for improved legibility. Furthermore, the update also allows the expansion of memory card compatibility to include 64GB UDMA6 cards and offers additional setting options for the AF/AE memory button. Autofocus precision has increased even more and focusing on very small subject details is, above all, greatly improved now.

The raw converter for ultimate image quality. Capture One Pro 6 is a professional RAW converter and image editing software. It contains all the essential tools and high-end performance in one package to enable you to capture, organize, edit, share and print images in a fast, flexible and efficient workflow. Capture One Pro 6’s powerful and intuitive toolset is used by professional photographers to achieve world-class image quality with excellent color and detail.

 Capture One 6 converts raw digital image files from professional digital medium format systems and more than 170 different digital camera models into the most beautiful photographs. Based on the world’s most advanced image processing engine, Capture One Pro 6 supports a comprehensive digital workflow with opportunities to capture, convert, organize, edit, share and print images with excellent color and detail rendition.
Capture One Pro 6 has been built to support an upcoming iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch application called Capture Pilot™ that will allow you to wirelessly view, zoom in on, and pan high resolution RAW, JPEG and TIFF images from leading DSLR and medium format camera systems.

A few of the new features in Capture One Pro 6:
- Local adjustments – edit selected areas of images non-destructively;
- Black and white conversion -- precisely adjust color channels to create split toning effects when converting to grayscale;
- Keystone correction -- reduces or eliminates perspective distortion while maintaining dimension integrity;
- High-quality, simple to use printing options.

 Capture One Express 6 / Pro 6 supports RAW files from the following digital backs/cameras:
Leaf: Aptus 75S, Aptus 65S, Aptus 54S, AFi 7, AFi 6, AFi 5, Aptus 75, Aptus 65, Aptus 22, Aptus 17.
Mamiya: MZD, ZD Back.
Canon: 1D Mark IV, 1Ds Mark III, 1D Mark III, 1D Mark II N, 1Ds Mark II, 1D Mark II, 1Ds, 1D, 7D, 5D Mark II, 5D, 60D, 50D, 40D, 30D, 20D, 10D, 550D/Rebel T2i, 500D/Rebel T1i, 450D/Rebel XSi, 400D/Rebel XTi, 350D/Rebel XT, 300D/Rebel, 1000D, D60, D30, Pro 1, G11, G10, G9, G6, G5, G3, G2, S95, S90.
Epson: R-D1s, R-D1.
Fuji: S5 Pro, S3 Pro, S2 Pro.
Konica Minolta: Alpha 5 D / Maxxum 5 D / Dynax 5 D, Alpha 7 D / Maxxum 7 D / Dynax 7 D, A1, A2.
Leica: D-Lux 5, X1, M9, M8, D-Lux 4, Digilux 3, Digital Module R for R8 and R9 cameras.
Nikon: D3s, D3X, D3, D2Xs, D2X, D2Hs, D2H, D1X, D1H, D700, D300s, D300, D200, D100, D90, D80, D70s, D70, D60, D50, D40X, D40, D7000, D5000, D3000, P6000.
Olympus: E-5, E-PL1, E-620, E-3, E-520, E-510, E-450, E-P1, E-P2, E-420, E-410, E-500, E-1, E-10, E-20, E-30, E-330, E-300, E-400, C-7070, C-8080.
Panasonic: DMC-GF2, DMC-GF1, DMC-G2, DMC-G1, DMC-G10, DMC-GH1, DMC-LX5, DMC-LX3, DMC-FZ100, DMC-FZ45.
Pentax: K20D, K10D, K7, KX, K200D, K110D, K100D Super, K100D, K2000/K-m, *istDL2, *istDL, *istD, *istDS2, *istDS. Only PEF files supported.
Sony: DSLR-A900, DSLR-A850, DSLR-A700, DSLR-A550, DSLR-A500, DSLR-A380, DSLRA350, DSLR-A330, DSLR-A300, DSLR-A230, DSLR-A200, DSLR-A100, DSC-R1.
Adobe: DNG 1.2 (raw DNG support only). The DNG support is not optimized for specific cameras.


Capture One DB 6 supports RAW files from the following digital backs/cameras:
Phase One: P 65+, P 40+, P 45+, P 30+, P 21+, P 25+, P 20+, Achromatic+, P 45, P 30, P 25, P 21, P 20, H 25, H 20, H 101, H 10, H 5, LightPhase.
Mamiya: DM56, DM40, DM33, DM28, DM22, M31, M22, M18.
Leaf: Aptus-II 12, Aptus-II 10R, Aptus-II 10, Aptus-II 8, Aptus-II 7, Aptus-II 6, Aptus-II 5, AFi-II 10, AFi-II 7, AFi-II 6.



Capture One 6.0 may run on other and older equipment than what’s listed below but to ensure the best possible results we recommend that your computer at minimum conforms to the following specifications:
Microsoft® Windows®:
• Intel® Pentium® 4 or better
• 2 GB of RAM
• 10 GB of free hard disk space
• Calibrated color monitor with 1280 x 800, 24 bit resolution at 96dpi screen ruling
• Windows XP® SP3 (32bit only), Windows Vista® SP2 (32 and 64bit), Windows 7® (32 and 64bit)
• Microsoft® .NET Framework version 3.5 Service Pack 1 Redistributable package. In case you do not already have this installed, Capture One will initiate installation of this.
• A PDF reader is needed to read the Release Notes.
• Flash is required to view the video on the Welcome Screen.
Apple® Macintosh®:
• Intel-based Mac
• 2 GB of RAM
• 10 GB of free hard disk space
• Calibrated color monitor with 1280 x 800, 24 bit resolution at 96dpi screen ruling
• Mac OS X 10.6.4, 10.5.8 or later
• Flash is required to view the video on the Welcome Screen.
The above hardware specifications are to be considered as minimum requirements. If you work with high resolution camera systems or simply want to optimize the performance, please follow the recommendations below:
• Use processors with multiple cores, e.g. Intel CoreTM Duo or better
• For Windows systems with more that 4 cores use Windows 7 64bit version.
• Having 4 GB of RAM or more
• Plenty of hard disk space for your images!
• A fast hard disk e.g. a Solid State Disk (SSD)
You need an internet connection when activating Capture One 6.0.

Read the complete Release notes:

Download Capture One Pro V.6.0 here http://www.phaseone.com/en/Downloads/CaptureOne.aspx