Category: Product Reviews
News
Imprezzeo launches visual image search product
Imprezzeo, a start-up based in London, has launched a new visual search product that allows users to search for images with an image-based search. Typically users search for images based on text information (keywords and descriptions) that are associated with an image but Imprezzeo is hoping that their technology can help change or enhance how images are found. With their new technology users can enhance their search experience by matching visual results with an example image or even upload their own image to find something that is visually similar.
News
PhotoShelter launches improved archive photo storage service
PhotoShelter, an online storage and archiving business for photographers, has announced that it has unveiled a series of new features billed as Version 2.0 for its PhotoShelter Personal Archive service. Among the more exciting improvements, the company is touting new website templates that enable photographers to launch a photography website with high-end features like flash slideshows, e-commerce, search, and security/password protection. In addition, the service now enables embeddable slideshows so photographers can post youtube-style video slideshows anywhere on the web. This announcement comes shortly after PhotoShelter decided last month to exit the stock licensing business to focus on its personal archive service.
News
Lightbox Photo launches its photo gallery software in the UK
Canadian based Lightbox Photo has announced that it is launching its photo gallery software in the UK. The company touts that it offers a solution for artists to display and sell their work online by creating your own stock photo library or online proofing system. The software is Linux, Mac and Windows compatible and can be used out of the box as a stand alone website, or it can be easily integrated into an existing site. Lightbox Photo is priced from $399 (approx. £200).
News
Adobe Lightroom 2 is here!
I’m delighted to report that the 64-bit native Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.0 is now shipping for Mac and Windows. LR2 sells for $299 ($99 upgrade), and the 30-day tryout version is available for immediate download.
Tom Hogarty has posted a wealth of info on the Lightroom Journal blog, so I won’t attempt to duplicate everything here. Instead let me note some highlights:
News
OnAsia releases keyword suggestion feature for Image Keyworder software
OnAsia, a Singapore based stock photography and assignment agency, has announced that it has released a new ‘suggest’ function as part of its Windows-based Image Keyworder software. The suggest feature now allows the community to participate in refining and growing Image Keyworder’s controlled vocabulary of more than 40,000 terms. The new version is offered as a free upgrade for existing users or costs approx US$ 79.99 for a new license allowing installation on two computers.
News
Digital Railroad incorporates PLUS licensing standards
Digital Railroad, a provider of online archiving and marketing services for photographers, has announced that it has been recognized by the PLUS (Picture Licensing Universal System) Coalition for integrating the PLUS licensing standards into the Digital Railroad platform. Digital Railroad currently serves 10 million professional photographers’ images, with nearly 3 million images available for licensing at its Marketplace. “Digital Railroad is a leading supporter of PLUS, and we’re extremely pleased with the company’s timely adoption of the PLUS image-licensing standards,” said Jeff Sedlik, CEO of the PLUS Coalition.
News
Capture integrates PLUS licensing standards into its asset management system
Capture a leading developer of image and digital asset management systems from the UK has announced that it has integrated the PLUS (Picture Licensing Universal System) standards into its web-based asset management system Capture Office Online (COO). According to a press release issued by the company “This means that the PLUS media matrix can be used in COO to specify standardized usage categories – and then generate prices easily (and the unique PLUS price code) by using COO’s price factoring facility”.
News
Picscout launches PicApp to provide free copyrighted Images to bloggers
PicScout, a technology company with offices in San Francisco and Herzelia Israel best known for helping stock licensing companies monitor distribution of their content, has launched a new service called PicApp for bloggers and other online publishers to use copyrighted images for free on their websites. Rather than pay for the content with traditional licensing fees each image is accompanied by an advertisement that generates royalties to the content contributor.
Features
Give your digital camera wi-fi with the new Eye-Fi SD card
"Has anyone seen my SD adaptor?", "Hmm...which one of these USB devices can I unplug?", "Babe...will you upload these photos from Lisa's birthday party?". Never ask yourself these troubling questions again. Photojojo brings us the incredible automagically uploading SD card adaptor. Amaze your friends and family alike with this seemingly magic device.
News
Nikon introduces 12.1 megapixel D3 with full-frame CMOS sensor
After years of producing digital SLR’s with a smaller APS-sized CMOS sensor (23.6 x 15.8 mm) Nikon has finally released a new Digital SLR with a full-frame (36.9 x 23.9 mm) chip roughly equivalent to the size of traditional 35mm SLR’s. The company has also introduced new terminology to make it easier for consumers to distinguish between the two digital formats by calling the smaller sensor ‘DX’ and the new larger sensor ‘FX’.
News
Canon launches 21.1-Megapixel EOS-1Ds Mark III Digital SLR
After more than 2 years on the market Canon’s 16.7 megapixel EOS-1Ds Mark II has been the SLR of choice for many professional stock photographers due to ease of use and the large file output. Canon, has just announced that it has finally improved on its flagship camera with the release of the 21.1 megapixel EOS-1Ds Mark III. The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III is scheduled to begin shipping in November with an estimated selling price of $7,999 matching the initial price point of its predecessor. Canon is hoping that the resolution offered in the 1Ds Mark III will make it an attractive choice for professional Fashion and Commercial studio photographers accustomed to using medium-format cameras.
News
Shake-up among Japanese camera makers
Konica-Minolta has decided to exit the camera manufacturing business. The collaboration between two of Japan’s once formidable photography equipment manufacturers has come to an end in the face of stiff competition in the Single Lens Reflex (SLR) digital camera arena from other well-known brands such as Pentax, Nikon and Canon.
Since July, 2005, Konica-Minolta has produced the cameras in partnership with the Sony Corporation. Konica-Minolta will sell part of the business operations to Sony, who will continue on its own, but only to manufacture lenses for the Konica-Minolta lens mounts. The company that owns the Konica brand, Konishiroku, will continue to make Konica copiers and other business and medical imaging machines.
News
Nikon stops making 35mm film SLR cameras
Signs that the end is near for film cameras and related products are becoming more frequent. The latest sign is that Japanese based Nikon Corporation has announced plans to cease manufacturing most 35mm film SLR bodies, all large-format lenses and enlarging lenses, most manual focus 35mm lenses, and related accessories. Nikon will continue to distribute the remaining inventory but did not indicate the amount of inventory left. According to the press release “High performance digital SLR cameras are performing well as users shift from film-based SLR cameras or upgrade from compact digital cameras to digital SLR cameras.” Click here to view the press release. In a related note InfoTrends has released a study entitled North American Professional Photography Market - 2005, which indicates that by 2010, 90% of all pictures shot professionally in North America will be captured with a digital camera, up from an estimated 70% today. Click here for more info.
Features
Canon Eos 1DS Mark II review
Dpreview.com has posted a review of the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II. This 16.7 megapixel camera has proven to be very popular among professional
stock photographers as this is the first 35mm sized SLR digital camera to
output 50mb files. Currently selling for about $7500 this camera is targeted at professionals who want to take advantage of the workflow advantages of a
handheld portable digital camera while still retaining the hi-res files needed to get the job done. Click
here for the review.
Canon Launches CMOS sensor website
Want to learn about the technology behind Canon’s successful
line of EOS digital cameras? Canon just launched a website promoting its CMOS
technology called The World of Canon CMOS Sensors. The site offers in-depth
info divided into four sections; Image capture, Technology, Full-frame appeal
and Shooting options. An interesting read if you shoot with or are considering
a Canon digital camera.
News
Canon announces new digital SLR’s
Big news for anyone shooting with Canon Digital equipment. Canon
introduced two new models.
EOS 5D (12.8 Megapixel) – Features a full
frame CMOS Sensor for just over $3000.
Of course the 16.7 Megapixel 1Ds Mark II
is still the king of the line but the high cost has kept many photographers
away. These new entries (especially the 5d) should allow more photographers to
step up to a higher quality full frame sensor without breaking the bank. I
currently have a EOS 20D
the 5D. Or maybe my loyal readers will contribute to the About The Image “Buy
me a 5D cuz I’m broke right now” fund.
News
Canon wants you to enjoy your digital SLR
Canon has just launched a new website called "Enjoy Digital SLR Cameras" for users of Canon
digital SLR’s. This website is written more for Prosumers
than Professionals but offers some nice tips for how to shoot better pictures
with a digital SLR. This site may be useful for those who want to brush up
on their skills or are just now making the transition to digital equipment.
Click here for Canon's Enjoy! Digital SLR Cameras website
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