Microsoft Releases Pro Photo Tools

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Microsoft has released Pro Photo Tools – a set of tools for photographers to perform various tasks with their images—including RAW.

The current version of Pro Photo Tools allow you to add, change, and delete common metadata properties for digital photographs. You can place photos on the Live Earth map and then drag them to the right location. The GPS information will be stored back into the photos. If you have a GPS device, can load track route files from the most popular formats (NMEA, GPX, and KML) and see them on the map. Then you can place your photos on the track route. Again, the GPS info will be stored into your file. When you have the right GPS location for your photos, you can automatically generate location info like country, state, city and even street names. Or if you know the location where a picture was taken, you can type it in and get the GPS location information automatically.

Microsoft Pro Photo Tools

Microsoft Pro Photo Tools provides a set of tools for photographers to perform various tasks with their images—including RAW captures. The current version enables you to quickly geotag your photos, view and edit metadata, and more, leveraging the power of Windows and Microsoft Live Local.

Pro Photo Tools includes the following features:

Geotagging with flexibility

As geotagging gains popularity, photographers want to be able to quickly identify the location for their images. With Pro Photo Tools, you can gather location information from a variety of sources and apply it to the metadata in your images.

Determine location name automatically

With Pro Photo Tools, you can automatically apply the actual name of the location where a photo was taken based on the GPS coordinates. Instead of numbers, you’ll have the "real" names, and that information can then be saved in the metadata for your photos.

Determine GPS coordinates from location name

Just because you haven’t always had a GPS receiver doesn’t mean you can’t assign GPS coordinates to your photos. In fact, using the power of Microsoft Live Local you can determine the GPS coordinates where any photo was taken based on location name information in the image metadata. The GPS coordinates can then be added to the metadata for your photos and the photos plotted on a map.

Identify location on a map

For the maximum in flexibility when assigning a location to an image, you can navigate to the precise location where you took a given photo and tag the photo with that location information based on a specific position on the map.

View images on a map

As cool as it is to have GPS coordinate information connected to your images, to really get a sense of place with your photos, you need to view them on a map. Pro Photo Tools utilizes Windows Live Local to display your images on a map of the world, including the ability to view your images on a normal map or a satellite view of the world.

Edit image metadata

Metadata has become increasingly important to photographers as a way to manage and organize their images. Among the many things it enables is a rich capability to search for images. You can now update a wide range of metadata for your images using Pro Photo Tools, and that metadata gets stored in the actual image file, so wherever your photo goes, your data goes.

RAW support

By leveraging the Windows Imaging Components (WIC), we’re able to provide support for any RAW file format (in addition to TIFF and JPEG) for which a codec has been developed. And that includes most RAW file formats. Not only can you view your RAW images within Pro Photo Tools, you can also update metadata—including GPS coordinates—directly in the file. The updated metadata is stored within the RAW file, not in a cumbersome "sidecar" file.
For information on obtaining codecs for your RAW images or other file formats, visit Codecs for Windows

Extensibility

Pro Photo Tools was built with extensibility in mind. Rather than creating a one-off tool, we created a framework we can leverage for future tools. This will allow us to add additional functionality in future versions of Pro Photo Tools more efficiently. That means you’ll get more features sooner.

For more information on how to use Microsoft Pro Photo Tools, see the article Geotagging Goes Mainstream.

Downloads
Microsoft Pro Photo Tools

.NET Framework 3.0

Additional information: Microsoft Pro Photo Home

EOS 1D Mark III and 1Ds Mark III Firmware Updates

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Canon has made available for download firmware version 1.2.3 for the Canon EOS-1D Mark III and firmware version 1.1.2 for the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III. 

The Updates allow the user to select AF points directly with the Multi-controller instead of the Quick Control Dial or Main Dial and additional ways to apply exposure compensation. They also promise to: "improve the stability of AF accuracy in AI servo AF mode when shooting extremely low-contrast subjects.

Further details of the firmware updates can be found here:

Canon 1Ds Mark III

Canon Digital Rebel XSi Review at Pocket Lint

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Pocket Lint has reviewed the Canon Digital Rebel XSi / EOS 450D which features a 12.2 megapixel CMOS image sensor, DIGIC III Image Processor, 3.5 fps continous shooting, 9-point AF system, 3.0 inch LCD with Live View, and optical image stabilization.

They write: “If you’ve yet to enter the digital SLR market and fancy going Canon, there are a number of features here on the Canon 450D that will appeal, not only that, it’s actually a very good camera that performs well if not a little flat for our liking, something that can be fixed easily in Photoshop… If your new to the digital SLR world and want Canon go for it. If you’re looking to upgrade and 400D users don’t worry you don’t have to yet, go for the more powerful 40D it offers much more for your money and should last you a lot longer.”

Canon EOS 450D

Get a price at Amazon for the Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12MP Digital SLR Camera

Read more about the Canon Digital Rebel XSi / Canon EOS 450D

Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ5 Review at PopPhoto

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PopPhoto have reviewed the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 a 9.1 megapixel (CCD) digital camera with 10x optical zoom (28mm – 280mm), 3.0 inch LCD with 460,000 pixel resolution and 20 megabytes of internal memory.

They write: “Simply put, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 handles noise well at all ISOs, without sacrificing much resolution. It’s less than a 5% decline in rez between ISO 100 and 800, and less than a 20% drop between ISO 100 and 1600. We’ d recommend setting ISOMax at 800 under most conditions (and use EV compensation to gain an extra stop or two), and only jump up to ISO 1600 when absolutely necessary… It is a point and shoot in the truest sense of the word — but a point and shoot that usually delivers images that will satisfy even discerning photographers who want to travel light. Throw in 720p HD video capture with full optical zoom during capture, one of the highest resolution LCDs in a pocketable camera and it gets even better.”

Panasonic Lumix TZ5

Get a price at Amazon for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5K 9MP Digital Camera

Read more about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5

Canon Produced 40 Million EF Lenses

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Canon has achieved a lens manufacturing landmark with production of Canons EF lenses passing the 40-million mark.

Canon’s proprietary EF lens was born in March 1987 along with the EOS SLR camera system. Canon celebrated the production of its 10 millionth EF lens in August 1995, its 20 millionth in February 2001, its 30 millionth in January 2006 and, a mere two years and three months later, has now surpassed the 40-million-unit mark.

Canon’s current EF lens line-up comprises 64 models.

Canon EF Lenses

Press Release

CANON CELEBRATES PRODUCTION OF 40 MILLION EF LENSES

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., April 29, 2008 – Canon U.S.A., Inc. is proud to announce that Canon Inc. has achieved a new lens-manufacturing milestone as production of the Company’s EF lenses passed the 40-million mark.

Production of interchangeable EF lenses for Canon EOS-series AF (autofocus) single-lens reflex cameras began in 1987 at the Company’s Utsunomiya Plant. Canon commemorated the production of its 10 millionth EF lens in August 1995, its 20 millionth in February 2001, its 30 millionth in January 2006 and, a mere two years and three months later, has now surpassed the 40-million-unit mark. This achievement reflects users’ high level of satisfaction with the innovative technology and quality offered by EF lenses, as well as with Canon’s marketing operations and service.

Canon’s proprietary EF lens, born in March 1987 along with the EOS SLR camera system, marked a new direction in the future of AF systems and soon garnered attention for it use of a large-diameter fully electronic lens mount and an internal autofocus motor. In November of the same year, Canon introduced the industry’s firsti Ultrasonic Motor-powered lens: the EF300mm f/2.8L USM. In September 1989, the EF50mm f/1.0L USM, featuring the world’s largest apertureii of f/1.0, was launched, and in September 1995 the EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, equipped with the world’s firstiii Image Stabilizer to compensate for the effects of camera shake, made its debut. Further, in December 2001, Canon introduced the world’s first super telephoto lens to employ a diffractive optical element for camera lensesiv: the EF400mm f/4 DO IS USM. Canon’s EF lens lineup, through the incorporation of innovative technologies, has consistently led the industry.

In conjunction with the launch in September 2003 of the highly acclaimed EOS Digital Rebel SLR camera, Canon expanded its EF lens lineup with the introduction of the EF-S series of lenses, optimized for use with digital SLR cameras that incorporate APS-C size image sensors.

Canon’s current EF lens lineup comprises 64 models, the most extensive selectionv in the industry. The Company’s diverse range of EF lenses include standard and super-telephoto zoom lenses, Image Stabilizer-equipped lenses, large-aperture lenses, macro lenses, and TS-E lenses, which include a special tilt-shift mechanism that permits the manipulation of image perspective and distortion. The comprehensive product lineup effectively caters to the wide-ranging needs of a broad user base, from novice photo enthusiasts to advanced amateur and professional photographers.

Looking to the future of the total EOS system, including EF lenses, Canon will continue to promote technical innovation, from optical design to electronics and production engineering, with the aim of contributing to the creation of a new photo culture through attractive products to satisfy the needs of all users.

For more information on Canon lenses please visit, www.usa.canon.com/dlc