The beta version of Camera Raw v6.1 is now available from Adobe. As usual, we can be pretty sure that this version is looking a lot like the final one. As complete as ever, this software program is more or less the reference in RAW format photo picture handling (the DxO Labs tools still have a better technical fame, but they need to catch up with the enormous notoriety of the Adobe brand).

This new version of Camera Raw, with its new improvements in digital noise management, brings new options of automatic lens defect correction (vignetting, distortion and chromatic aberrations) as shown in the presentation video from Downloadsquad just below. But the best is still to go and download the beta version (unless you would prefer to avoid testing a version which is not 100% debugged by Adobe).

IrfanView v4.27

The excellent images handling software program, IrfanView, has just been upgraded to version 4.27.

• Command line options to handle images with scripts (actions) or filters.
• Addition of a border or a frame.
• Addition of new filters and file formats.
• The screen copies options now allow to handle larger objects like a full web page (auto-scroll is included).

Even better, it stays free.

Canon was fast on this one. A few hours only after announcing the removal of version 2.0.3, here is the new version 2.0.4 of the Canon EOS 5D MkII firmware. It corrects a bug in sound handling in 1080p video mode.

Firmware v2.0.4

Canon just informed us that the new firmware 2.0.3 for the Canon EOS 5D MkII has an undescribed issue (for some users).

Canon is not much more precise than that yet (some users are speaking about sound issues, though). But if you did not already rush to get this specific (and important) firmware version, I’d suggest you think a little more and wait for some more news and a possible update.

RAW file conversion process

Ready to celebrate the arrival of 2009 Beaujolais Nouveau, a new version of the RAW conversion utility from Adobe is here: Camera Raw 5.6. It supports a whole lot of recent cameras:

• Canon EOS 7D
• Canon PowerShot G11
• Canon PowerShot S90
• Leaf Aptus II 5
• Mamiya DM22, DM28, DM33, DM56, M18, M22, M31
• Nikon D3s
• Olympus E-P2
• Pentax K-x
• Panasonic FZ38
• Sigma DP1s
• Sony A500
• Sony A550
• Sony A850

It also solves an issue in demosaicing of some Raw files on PowerPC Mac.

Download Adobe Camera Raw 5.6.

These last days, plenty of photo camera manufacturers announced updated and corrections to the firmware of their photo cameras. Uncanny…

• Pentax K-7 : site Pentax UK
• Canon EOS 7D : Canon web site
• Canon EOS Rebel XS/1000D : Canon web site

And we are told that Canon prépares a big firmware update to bring full HD video to the Canon EOS 5D MkII in 2010.

A few news for Pentax. The Pentax K-7 is receiving a new firmware. the most visible change is the introduction of a customizable behavior for the 4-way controller in order to allow people not to use the OK button so often.

• For Windows (Download zip from www.pentaximaging.com, 9.2MB)
• For Mac (Download zip from www.pentaximaging.com, 9.17MB)

At the same time, I can indicate that I identified the availability of the Pentax K-7 user manual (ready for a free download).

• Download Pentax K-7 User Manual in English (PDF – 6.8MB)
• Download Pentax K-7 User Manual in Spanish (PDF – 6.8MB)
• Update: Télécharger le mode d’emploi du Pentax K-7 en français (PDF)

In order to complete our previous information about the recall of some Nikon D5000 for an issue of startup lock-down, I want to share with you the data from Nikon Watch. They had the patience to verify full sets of serial numbers to try and find quickly the bad apples (bad serial numbers in need of a free Nikon repair).

Nikon D5000

D5000 Service Advisory Serial Number Range

The list they established is:

3015209 – 3026100: Positive (has the defect, must be repaired)

3023300: Negative

3023400 – 3026200: Positive

3026300: Negative

3026400 – 3029200: Positive

3029300: Negative

3029400 – 3030000: Positive

3030100 – 3030200: Negative

3030300 – 3032200: Positive

3032300: Negative

3032400 – 3048000: Positive

3048100: Negative

3048200 – 3054100: Positive

3054200: Negative

3054300 – 3073600: Positive

3073700: Negative

3073800 – 3084200: Positive

3084300: Negative

3084400 – 3085200: Positive

3085300: Negative

3085400 – 3112300: Positive

3112400: Negative

3112500 – 3114300: Positive

3114400 – 3515500 : Negative- End of run?

In all cases, I heartily recommend that you use this list only as a secondary source of information (a sales-people/shop may print it and keep it at hand under the counter) and to always confirm by checking the primary source, the on-line tool provided by Nikon.

Nota bene: They even provide the source code to their little software program that is doing the check…

We previously learned that some Nikon D5000 were suffering from an unpleasant issue of not start when switched on, even with a fully charged battery. Nikon now has more details to provide.

• According to Nikon France, there are only a dozen cases in France (most of the bodies already sold are fully immune).
• It is possible to easily know if your camera serial number is in the list of defective parts: Bad serial numbers (the same information will be available on the Nikon US web site, from July 23rd).
• Repair will have to be done in the repair department of Nikon.
• Customers will appreciate to learn that Nikon France is offering this repair: No cost to the customer.

Thanks to Nikon France.

Canon has released firmware v1.1.0 for the EOS 5D Mark II. It enables manual control of ISO, aperture and shutter speed while the camera is set to capture video.

Canon EOS 5D Mk II video firmware

More information

• Links to download firmware v1.10
• PDF manual about how to use the new features in English/French/Spanish
• PDF manual about how to use the new features in Japanese/English/Chinese

Adobe just published a patch/upgrade to Photoshop CS4. Those who are equipped with this software program will probably be interested in visiting http://www.adobe.com/downloads/updates/ to get the upgrade in order to correct a few performance and feature bugs.

Moreover, the users of MacBook Air and recent MacBook Pro systems can use mutli-touch to rotate documents frame.But, sometimes, it turns out (!) being a nightmare if this is too sensitive. So, Adobe decided to offer a free plug-in to optionnally disable the rotation/zoom commands through muti-touch gestures.