Canon has released a new firmware update for its flagship DSLR camera 1Ds Mark III.

Download: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Firmware Update 1.1.2

The following improvements will be obtained by Firmware v1.1.2:

1. Direct selection of AF points by the Multi-controller is added to C.Fn III-9.
Settings 3, 4, and 5 of C.Fn III-9 allow the user to select AF points directly with the M ulti-controller instead of the Quick Control Dial or Main Dial.
* In setting 3, you can select from all 19 points with the Multi-controller.
* In setting 4, your selection is limited to the 9 inner points with the Multi-controller.
* In setting 5, your selection is limited to the 9 outer points with the Multi-controller.

Ricoh launched the new G600, a water and dust resistant compact digital camera with a wide angle 5x zoom lens. With its shock resistance body, the G600 passes Ricoh's shock resistance test for a 1.5 m fall, a test that conforms to US Department of Defense standards. The G600 also has an impressive water resistant capacity, it can even take photos underwater at depths of up to about 1 m. The versatile 5x optical wide-angle zoom lens is equivalent to 28-140 mm in 35mm format, and has a macro mode with a min focus distance of 1cm.G600 is quite compact with a weight of only 260 g. and body size of 116.5 mm (W) × 68.0 mm (H) × 32.0 mm.

Ricoh G600 seems to be the perfect solution for photographers who works under tough physical conditions and need a compact sized reliable digital camera which they can carry easily with confidence.

Ricoh G600 Full Specifications:

The version 1.10 firmware update for the Nikon D3 DSLR has been removed from Nikon’s support site. According to the statement from Nikon Support Department, the image data may be corrupted if the camera is used in the following combination of settings:

・ Release mode:  Continuous high speed (Ch), or Continuous low speed (Cl) with Custom Setting d2 set to 9 fps
・ Image area:  FX format (36x24) or 5:4 (30x24)
・ Image quality:  NEF (RAW) or NEF (RAW) + JPEG fine/normal/basic
・ NEF (RAW) recording>NEF (RAW) bit depth:  14-bit

The Alpha A350, currently the best selling DSLR on the Sony DSLR line-up features a 14.2-megapixel Super HAD CCD, Live Preview of your subject, Super SteadyShot in-camera image stabilization, Scene Selection Modes, High-resolution thumbnails for PhotoTV HD viewing, Eye-Start Autofocus System, Anti-dust technology, 1200-zone evaluative meteringa tiltable, and a 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD Plus screen. No other camera offers such a high resolution sensor in its price range and the tilting LCD screen with live view.

We listed the latest and best reviews of the Sony A350 on the web to give you an idea about what this 14.2 MP monster offers and also help to make a comparison with the other popular competitors in this class like Canon 450D / Digital Rebel Xsi, Nikon D60, Olympus E420 and Pentax K200D.

Sony A350 Reviews on the Web:

The EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi , the new entry level Canon DSLR featuring a 12.2-megapixel CMOS sensor Digital SLR camera features DIGIC III Image Processor, 3.5 fps continous shooting, 9-point AF system, and two types of AF during Live View Function, Auto Optimization, compatibility with SD and SDHC Memory cards, and a large 3.0-inch LCD monitor is probably the most popular DSLR currently in the market. But the competiton has never been this though before in this segment, considering the 3 new DSLR from Sony (A200, A300, A350), the new Nikon D60, Olympus E420 and K200D of course from Pentax.

Below we listed the best Canon 450D / Digital Rebel XSi reviews on the web so far:

Mamiya has introduced the ProSD adapter HX702 which allows the use of the Mamiya ZD 22 Mp Digital Back on Mamiya RB67 Pro-S and Pro-SD medium format cameras.

HX702 transforms a Mamiya RB67 film camera into a 22-megapixel digital camera, and the rugged aluminum adapter has a built-in revolving mechanism, thus retaining RB67's unique feature of switching between vertical and horizontal. The interface between the ZD Digital Back and the RB67 goes through a cable plugged into the lens flash sync terminal.

Specs And Availability:

A faster type of CompactFlash card that is set to boost digital SLR shooting speeds is expected to become available next month. The new type of fast compactflach cards are said to be capable of delivering a data transfer rate of 375 MB/sec, while fastest current CompactFlash cards can achieve only 45 MB/sec. The CFast card uses a SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) interface that is faster than the current PATA (Parallel ATA) interface.

The use of these fast compactflash cards may lead to higher continuous shooting speeds on your DSLR, faster transfer of files to computer and instant review of photos on LCD screen.Unfortunately, the new cards are not expected to be compatible with current CompactFlash slots on DSLRs but possibly may be used with a help of an adapter. Bill Frank, executive director of the CompactFlash Association (CFA), told these new fast compactflash cards would be available around the end of 2008 for use in devices such as computers, with DSLR-enabled designs to follow next year.

Users who had downloaded the latest firmware update for D3 have found some interesting information strings in the firmware file. The string about the file sizes: " 6048 x 4032; 24.4 M 4544 x 3024; 13.7 M 3024 x 2016; 6.1 M 5056 x 4032; 20.4 M 3792 x 3024; 11.5 M 2528 x 2016; 5.1 M 3968 x 2640; 10.5 M 2976 x 1976; 5.9 M 1984 x 1320; 2.6 M." includes highest resolution of 24.4 MP which is almost the same as Sony fullframe sensor which is expected to be used in Flagship Sony DSLR A900.

The other reduced resolutions on the string (13.7 megapixels at 4544 x 3024 and 6.1 megapixels at 3024 x 2016) may be indicating 1.4X and 2.0X teleconverter mode which looks similar to the 2.0X crop mode on the Nikon D2x. These teleconverter modes are also utilised on new Sony Alpha series DSLRs A300 and A350. This is where the high pixel resolution sensor shines, as an example it lets you use your 400mm f2.8 as 520mm f2.8 at 13.7 MP resolution and as a whopping 800mm f2.8 at 6.1 MP resolution.

Price and Availability:

Adobe has released the updated versions of Camera Raw and Lightroom.

Adobe added support for some of the latest DSLRs and compacts from Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax, FUjifilm and Olympus with Camera Raw 4.4.1 and Lightroom 1.4.1 and fixed a selection of bugs in the previous versions.

The list of newly supported cameras with the updates:

• Canon EOS 450D / Rebel XSi
• Nikon D60
• Sony A200
• Sony A300
• Sony A350
• Pentax K20D
• Pentax K200D
• Olympus SP-570UZ
• Fujifilm S100fs

To Download the Camera Raw 4.4.1 and Lightroom 1.4.1:

Nikon has announced a new 'Performance' series digital camera: Coolpix P80

Coolpix P80 is following the popular ultrazoom concept with its 18x Nikkor zoom lens(35mm equivalent of 27-486mm). P80 features a 10.1 MP sensor powered by Nikon’s EXPEED image processor, CCDshift image stabilization system, a 2.7" LCD screen and a high sensitivity rating of up to ISO 6400 for use in low light conditions.

Nikon Coolpix P80 Availability and Price: