Digital Media: July 2009

Monday, July 27, 2009

Nikon D5000 Cashback Offer

Nikon is offering cashback on its D5000 DSLR. You can get £75 cashback on its twin lens kit and £50 on its single lens kit.

Check out the offers and how to benefit now here: http://www.nikon.co.uk/sites/cashback/default.html

Nikon D3X provides more options for the Pro

The D3X redefines high resolution SLR photography, whether you shoot in the studio or out on location. The 24.5 megapixel FX format CMOS sensor delivers image files with outstanding levels of detail and tonal gradation and boasts an ISO range of 100 to 1600. Its durable Kevlar/carbon fiber-composite shutter and EXPEED image processing engine enable it to shoot at up to 5 fps (7 fps in DX Crop mode). The advanced Scene Recognition System delivers superior exposures and is supported by Nikon’s widely acclaimed 51-point AF system, which offers broad coverage and individually selectable points. Selectable Picture Controls streamline in-camera image processing, saving time in post-production. The high definition 3-inch LCD monitor supports two Live View modes plus an HDMI video output. Protected by a tough, environmentally-sealed magnesium alloy body.

Features:

24.5 megapixel FX format CMOS sensor with high signal-to-noise ratio, wide dynamic range and 12-channel readout.
ISO 100 – 1600: extendable up to 6400 (equivalent) and down to ISO 50 (equivalent).
5fps consecutive shooting (7fps in DX Crop mode)
EXPEED image processing engine with 14-bit A/D conversion and 16-bit image processing for superb tonal gradation.
Advanced Scene Recognition System combines the camera’s metering and AF sensors for precise exposures and sharply defined images.
Multi-CAM3500FX 51-point AF system. Individually selectable or configurable in 9-point, 21-point and 51-point coverage settings.
Picture Controls streamline in-camera image processing by enabling customization of image parameters before capture and offer complete control over sharpening, contrast, brightness, hue and saturation in various color modes.
920,000-dot 3-inch VGA LCD monitor with wide, 170-degree viewing angle.
Live View with Autofocus enables composition of images using the LCD monitor. Two modes are supported: Handheld or Tripod.
Two Crop Modes: DX format and 5:4 ratio. The DX crop mode can be automatically enabled when a DX lens is attached.
Quick response: approx. 40 ms shutter-lag and 55 ms viewfinder black-out.
Highly accurate, durable Kevlar/carbon fiber-composite shutter unit: Standard rating of 300, 000 cycles, with a maximum shutter speed of 1/8,000 sec and flash synchronization at up to 1/250 sec.
Active D-Lighting enables superior high-contrast images by automatically applying tone compensation at the moment of capture.
Dual CF card slots: configurable for parallel (simultaneous) or serial (consecutive) recording.
HDMI video output interface enables connection to high-definition video systems.
Intuitive ergonomics with optimized button placement for fast and comfortable handling.
Durable magnesium alloy body built to withstand the rigors of the harshest of environments.
Wireless LAN and Ethernet support via optional Wireless Transmitter WT-4.

Price: £4764 inc VAT (Body only)

Canon to introduce new Hybrid IS

Canon’s newly developed Hybrid IS technology optimally compensates for angular camera shake (rotational) and shift camera shake (linear). Sudden changes in camera angle can cause significant blur in images taken during standard shooting, whereas blur caused by shift-based shaking, when a camera moves parallel to the subject, is more pronounced in macro and other close-up photography.

It is expected to be available from later this year in Canon's range of lenses.

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Friday, July 24, 2009

Apple updates Final Cut Studio with more than 100 new features!

Apple has released the new Final Cut Studio, with over 100 new features. Consisting of 5 applications (Final Cut Pro 7, Motion 4, Soundtrack Pro 3, Color 1.5 and Compressor 3.5), it provides virtually everything the filmmaker needs in one brilliant combination.

Highlights include:

Expanded ProRes family

ProRes is an Apple codec that allows you to edit at HD quality with SD file sizes. In addition to the original ProRes 422 and ProRes 422 (HQ) versions, Apple now offers three new ProRes versions, ranging from an efficient proxy version for use on notebook computers to a high-quality version for use in compositing.

Incredible effects and transitions

Final Cut Pro 7 offers real-time performance for more than 150 filters and effects as well as for multistream video. New speed change tools and expanded support for Alpha transitions offer even more options. Use the SmoothCam feature to stabilise shaky shots while preserving standard camera moves.

Broad format support

Final Cut Pro 7 lets you edit natively in almost any format across the full spectrum of tape and file-based media. You can even mix and match formats and frame rates in the Timeline, including any of the five versions of Apple ProRes.

Open, extensible architecture

Open standards such as QuickTime and FxPlug encourage interoperability with a host of third-party tools. Build a custom facilitywide solution around Final Cut Pro using its updated open, standards-based XML interchange format.

Seamless collaboration

New collaboration tools make it easy to work with clients and colleagues, whether they’re across the hall or on the other side of the world. Discuss the edit in real time with iChat Theater, instantly post video to the web, or use Final Cut Server for effortless asset sharing and automated review and approval.

Digital cinema workflows

Featuring deeper integration with Color, Final Cut Pro 7 is ideal for digital intermediate workflows for projects shot on film, as well as cutting-edge workflows for video from high-resolution cameras such as the RED ONE. Improved relinking with Cinema Tools 4.5 allows you to produce change lists and edit lists with confidence.

Comprehensive editing tools

Work quickly using a complete set of professional editing and trimming tools, with a full range of customisation options for flexibility and control. Numerous interface improvements, including enhanced markers and tabs, help speed your work.

Highlights:

Intuitive real-time design environment

Start animating right away with the easy-to-use tools and intuitive interface in Motion 4. You can see the results in real time as you work and adjust animation settings on the fly. Instantly set an object in motion by dragging a behaviour to the Canvas, then use the Keyframe Editor to make precise adjustments.

Breathtaking filters and effects

Motion 4 comes with more than 120 GPU-accelerated filters and effects. And filters are just the beginning. Instantly animate mesmerising patterns with Replicator, and rapidly create smoke, fog or other dramatic effects with one of more than 200 particle presets. You can create even more effects by using a wide range of third-party FxPlug filters

Effortless 3D graphics

Create motion graphics in 3D space without learning a brand-new interface. The integrated 3D multiplane environment in Motion 4 is a natural extension of familiar 2D tools. All of the Motion features, such as particles, text behaviours, motion paths and Replicator, work in the 3D environment.

Powerful compositing

The comprehensive set of layering and masking tools in Motion 4 offers everything you need for compositing 2D and 3D graphics. Precisely adjust video clips to work with your composites by using features such as optical flow retiming, SmoothCam stabilization for shaky shots, and automatic point tracking and match moving.

Easy-to-use text and titling tools

Make the letters in a word, phrase or sentence tumble onto the screen by adjusting a single character. Create instant sequences of numbers that count up or count down. Build editable lower thirds and other titles for use in Final Cut Pro, with regular text or animated LiveFonts. Working with text has never been easier.

For more info on the other application in Final Cut tudio, visit the Apple website: http://www.apple.com/uk/finalcutstudio/

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Fujifilm announce release of FinePix S200EXR, its latest prosumer bridge camera

Fujifilm has announced the successor to its well-received S100FS, the S200EXR, featuring its Super CCD EXR Sensor. A new arrangement of the color filter mosaic provides more image data than conventional arrays. Combined with new 3-way Capture Technology, the result is a single sensor that can operate in three modes: high resolution, wide dynamic range, or high sensitivity and low noise.

Features:

Super CCD EXR Sensor
Even closer to the human eye than you imagined. The award-winning switchable EXR sensor delivers optimal results for high resolution, high contrast, and low-light photography

Super Intelligent Flash
A flash control technology that lets you take flash-assisted macro shots with the ideal balance of flash output and sensitivity. Integrated in the Auto mode, this next-generation flash system captures both the subject and background in bright, clear details over the full flash range including ultra close-ups.

2.7-inch, 230,000-dot LCD monitor
The 2.7-inch, 230,000-dot LCD monitor assures a sharp, brilliant view. The wide viewing angle of up to 160°, both vertically and horizontally, keeps the image visible when holding the camera at various angles, and is equally convenient for playing back images and viewing menus.

Easy Viewing EVF (Electronic Viewfinder)
The newly developed electronic viewfinder is designed to offer the same kind of viewing experience as an optical finder. It's LCD system shows dramatically improved responsiveness and color accuracy, thanks to a field sequential motion system, allowing it to be used to check color balance and focus. The 0.2-inch, approximately 200,000-dot back-panel LCD monitor offers an improved view as well, with a finer, less-pixelated image.

CCD-RAW (EXR) + JPEG File Formats for Post-Processing
For the ultimate in image quality, CCD-RAW (EXR) capture mode, producing files that can be developed and post-processed on your PC

You can also choose to have the camera simultaneously record CCD-RAW (EXR) and JPEG files.

Price: TBA

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Free Lantern for Poser from Content Paradise

Content Paradise are offering another freebie. Get your free Lantern for Poser 5/6/7 now. The included materials were done with shader nodes - so you can only use the lantern
with Poser 5 or higher.

Just load the lantern into your scene, scale and place it for your needs and
you are ready to render.

Maybe make it more transparent, place a light in it or make your own materials for it.

I hope you´ll have fun with this little freebie :)

Mac - User Information

If the default Mac decompression utility ('BOMArchiveHandler') says that it can't decompress the downloaded ZIP file, there are two things to do.

1. Use a different decompression utility. Either Stuffit Expander or any of several free- and shareware utilities which can expand ZIP files, should be able to correctly extract the contents of the ZIP.

2. In the Finder, select the ZIP archive and choose 'Get Info' from the File menu. In the 'Ownership and Permissions' section of the Info window, click the 'Show Details' disclosure triangle; set your current user account and the current group to have 'Read and Write' permissions.

You may need to enter an admin password in order to authorize this, but you should then be able to properly extract all the files from the ZIP.

Mozilla Firefox Memory Corruption Vulnerability

Secunia security site has issued an advisory notice that Firefox has a security vulnerability. It affects Firefox 3.5 and i regarded a highly critical. Apparently, it is caused by a Javascript error when dealing with <font> tags and can lead to memory corruption and alow a malicious peron to compromise a user's system.

Solution:
Set "javascript.options.jit.content" to "false" by opening about:config.

Do not browse untrusted websites or follow untrusted links.

Provided and/or discovered by:
SBerry (Simon Berry-Byrne)

Changelog:
2009-07-15: Updated "Solution" section with temporary workaround information. Added vendor link to the "Original Advisory" section. Added US-CERT link to the "Other References" section.

Original Advisory:
SBerry:
http://milw0rm.com/exploits/9137

Mozilla:
http://blog.mozilla.com/security/2009...vascript-vulnerability-in-firefox-35/

Other References:
US-CERT VU#443060:
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/443060

Visit http://secunia.com/advisories/35798/ for more details and useful information on security threats in general.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Scientists discover new property of light.

LiveScience web-site reports that scientists at Yale Univ. have discovered a hitherto unknown property of light, namely, that in certain situations it can exert a repulsive force. The scientists report that they can control this property and that as a result its possible that their research could lead to new nano-devices using light rather than electricity.

Previously, the scientists discovered that light can act as an attractive force and be ued to manipulate celectronic components, acting on tiny switches. Unlike the 'push' effect of light (e.g. the sun's effect on asteroids) which acts perpendicular to a surface, the newly discovered forces act at right angles from the direction of travel.

The benefits of using light instead of electricity is that the signal does not deteriorate as much, leading to much greater efficiency.

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Thursday, July 02, 2009

The Free Zygote Syringe Models and Image

3D Science.com are once again offering a free 3d model and image from Zygote. The free syringe models are available in obj format.
The free image is available in jpg format at 2000x1206 pixels.

>> Click to download Image

>> Click to download 3D Model

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