Adobe announced the release of Adobe Photoshop Element 8 for both Windows and Mac platforms for the price of US$99.99. Windows version is available immediately while the Mac version will be available in Oct 2009.

Positioned as a companion to Apple iPhoto, the new Adobe Photoshop Element 8 brings editing capabilities and simplicity to a new level leveraging on Photoshop CS4 technology. Features include:

• Photomerge Exposure - merge multiple shots of the same scene, with and without a flash, together to create a perfectly lit photo that shows every detail.
• Recompose - easy way to automatically resize photos without distorting the most important parts.
• Quick Fix previews - visually choose the best color, contrast and lighting adjustments from a series of previews.
• Scene Cleaner - for brushing away unwanted elements, such as tourists or cars, from a series of photos to create the perfect scene.
• Smart Brush - apply incredible effects to a specific area of a photo with a single stroke.
• Touch-Up Brush - make common editing tasks quick, such as whitening teeth or making bright blue skies.
• Online web gallery template to display photos on the web or personal web pages.
• Build-in media management provides quick organization with a custom viewing workspace, keyword tagging and full-screen preview with one-click close-ups.

Order Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 for Mac

Adobe Photoshop Elements for Mac Website

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Canon comes with great software for their EOS Digital SLR camera. ImageBrowser (ZoomBrowser on Windows), Digital Photo Professional (for RAW file processing) and other utilities software are indispensable if you own a Canon EOS DSLR. The problem is Canon’s distribution policy for their camera software, you need the original CDs that comes with the camera in order to be able to install them on your Mac. The updates available from Canon’s download site are just updates that expect you already have the software installed.

This create problem if you have lost your EOS software CD, or you purchase the camera from another user who has lost the EOS software CD. Turns out that there is an easy way to work around this ‘problem’:

• Download as per normal the latest EOS camera software from Canon’s download site.
• The download is dmg file which will be mounted as volume
• Copy the updater software to your desktop
• Control-click on the updater software and select “Show Package Contents”
• Navigate to the folder Contents > Resources and delete the file “update.plist”

Now you can double click the updater software file and it should install without any issues.

Pentax has announced the K-x digital SLR, a camera that attempts to redefine the entry-level DSLR category with high-end features. Housed in a compact and lightweight body similar to Pentax K2000 (K-m), Pentax K-x has a newly developed 12.4 CMOS sensor, 11-point autofocus, Live View with face detection, 720p HD video at 24 FPS, in-camera HDR processing, fast 4.7 FPS capture speed, 1/6000s maximum shutter speeds, in-camera digital filter effects, Shake Reduction (SR) mechanism, ISO 100-12800 and uses universally available AA batteries.

Pentax targets K-x DSLR at users stepping up from a point and shoot digital camera. It will be available in a choice of colors: black, white, and special edition red and navy. Pentax is offering color customization for the Japan market. You can choose from twenty different colors for the body and five for the grip.

Pentax K-x DSLR will be available in October 2009 at a price of $649.95 with the DA-L 18-55mm lens. It will also be available as twin lens kit for $749.95 which includes the DA-L 18-55mm lens and the DA-L 50-200mm lens. Or for $849.95, you get the K-x, the DA-L 18-55mm lens and the DA-L 55-300mm lens. The DA-L 55-300mm lens is new and is exclusive to the K-x twin lens kit.

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Panasonic has released firmware updates for its DMC-GH1 and DMC-G1 Micro Four-Thirds cameras. The updates:

• improve Auto Focus performance in low contrast conditions
• improve the stability of AE (Auto Exposure) control when used with the recently launched Panasonic Leica 45mm F2.8 Macro lens

GH1 firmware v1.2 also decreases the operation noise of Auto Focus for video recording when used with the recently launched 20mm F1.7 pancake lens.

Download firmware v1.2 for Lumix DMC-GH1

Download firmware v1.4 for Lumix DMC-G1

Olympus has released firmware 1.1 for its popular Micro Four Thirds EP-1 camera. This update purportedly aims to calm Olympus’s loyal following by solving one of the greatest grievance of EP-1, which is the slow operation for auto focus.

Together with the release, Olympus posts firmware upgrade for E-P1’s two kit lenses: the M. Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 lens and the M. Zuiko Digital 17mm 1:2.8 pancake lens.

EP-1 owner can download the firmware update via the bundled Olympus Master/Studio software.

SanDisk has released a new range of Extreme Pro CompactFlash cards with super-fast read and write speed of up to 90MB/s, doubling the performance of SanDisk’s previous high-end cards. Extreme Pro range will replace the existing SanDisk Extreme IV cards. SanDisk will start shipping this week in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB at a MSRP ranging from $300 to $800.

“The new SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash line is the direct result of SanDisk’s passion, commitment, and break-through engineering innovation to provide best-in-class flash memory cards for professional photography,” said Eric Bone, vice president, retail product marketing, SanDisk. “The SanDisk Power Core Controller delivers unmatched write speed and reliability, providing photographers with a spectacular combination of performance, capacity and peace of mind that images are safely stored.”

Accompany the super-fast CF cards is the SanDisk Extreme Pro ExpressCard™ Adapter, optimised to take advantage of the SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash card’s up to 90MB/s read speed. The reader will be available in late October at an MSRP of $49.99.

SanDisk has also released another line of CF and SDHC cards called Extreme, replacing the Extreme III series. The new Extreme series offers transfer speed of up to 60MB/s and will be available from 8GB to 32GB with a price range from $130 to $375.

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Digital SLR (DSLR) camera is now at a price point that is attractive to people looking for an upgrade from point and shoot (P&S) camera. Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, Pentax all have quality entry level DSLRs that promised great pictures. But high quality image does not come automatically with a higher-end gear. The following are 8 pointers for P&S owners looking to pick up their first DSLR.

1. DSLR advantages

The promise of high quality photos and the ability for creative images are the main advantage of DSLR. This is possible due to:

• DSLR allows manual control to override the automatic mode of the camera. You will have full control of how you want the exposure of your pictures, giving you creative options. Granted, a few high-end P&S compacts such as Panasonic Lumix LX3 or Canon G10 also provide such features.

• DSLR has more advanced electronics, making it easier or possible to capture fast motion pictures such as sports or birds-in-flight.

• DSLR has better high ISO performance due to its sensor. You can have acceptable images even for ISO as high as 1600. This allows for low light shooting or where exposure requires high shutter speed. Newer advanced compact such as Sony WX1 is trying to catch up by employing newer CMOS sensor design.

• DSLR provides easier control for depth-of-field (DOP) due to its larger sensor. Shallow DOP allows you to have the subject in sharp focus with a blurry background, giving highlight and contrast to subject matter.

• DSLR provides optional RAW image file meant for post processing. Post processing is akin to the darkroom in film photography, allowing you to correct, adjust or applying effect to your images. A number of advanced P&S models allow for RAW images as well.

• Lens in DSLR is interchangeable, and you have the options for high quality pro level lens which will improve the image quality of your photos.

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