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Posts Tagged ‘Support’

Canon announces ambitious plans for equipment and support for pros at Tokyo 2020

20 Jul

Canon Inc. and Canon Marketing Japan Inc. have announced their plans for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic games. Canon will set up a photo service center for professional photographers at the Main Press Center (MPC). The MPC is where international press gathers during Tokyo 2020.

Canon’s photo service center will ensure professional photographers are well-equipped to capture iconic imagery during the games. In addition to providing Canon’s best cameras and lenses, the photo service center will offer photographers a network of service and support.

’Thus far, Canon has provided on-site support for press photographers, including camera and lens maintenance and technological support, behind the scenes at major sporting events around the world,’ Canon said. ‘The Tokyo 2020 Games are no exception—there too, Canon will apply its professional support know-how acquired over its long history to provide flexible and appropriate support for photographers and the various requests and equipment troubles they may have.’

Credit: Canon

Located at the Tokyo Big Sight Convention Center, Canon’s photo service center will be the largest photo service center during the event. Canon is a Gold Partner for Tokyo 2020, supplying still cameras and printers.

The photo service center will operate under a principle of ‘zero downtime,’ ensuring photographers won’t miss their opportunities to capture iconic moments during the games. Canon writes, ‘Canon will provide speedy maintenance service, equipment repairs and loaning of replacement equipment so that photographers can always be ready and in the best possible condition.’

Canon 1DX Mark III

Equipment on hand will include DSLR and mirrorless cameras and lenses, including EOS-1DX III and Canon EOS R5 and R6 cameras. Many lenses will be available, including Canon’s telephoto and super-telephoto optics, ideal choices for sports photography.

Spectators will be sure to see many white lenses in photographer bays and around the events. Canon’s white lenses are iconic, and their origins are traced back to the 1970s. Canon writes, ‘Canon developed the signature white of its lens barrels as a tool for photographers at international sporting events. The first such lenses* produced by the company, the FD600mm f/4.5 S.S.C. and FD800mm f/5.6 S.S.C. large-diameter super-telephoto lenses, were released in June 1976.’

Credit: Canon

White paint reflects heat better than black paint. This is especially important on large lenses, such as telephoto optics. When a lens heats up, the increasing temperatures can adversely affect optical performance.

To learn more about Canon’s services at Tokyo 2020, including Canon’s robotics, read the company’s announcement.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Pixelmator Pro 2 announced, featuring all-new interface and Apple M1 support

17 Nov

Pixelmator has announced Pixelmator Pro 2.0. Pixelmator calls it ‘the biggest update to Pixelmator Pro yet,’ and it includes an all-new design, support for Macs using Apple’s new M1 chip, full compatibility with the upcoming macOS Big Sur (macOS 11.0) and much more. Further, the update is free for all existing Pixelmator Pro users.

Pixelmator Pro’s editing engine is underpinned by Metal code, allowing the team to take full advantage of the unified memory architecture of the Apple M1 chip. The result is ‘much speedier and much more responsive image editing.’ Tasks relying upon machine learning, such as ML Super Resolution, are up to 15 times faster on the new Macs equipped with the M1 chip. Pixelmator Pro 2.0 remains a Universal app, meaning it runs natively on both M1 and Intel-based Apple devices.

Regarding the all-new design, Pixelmator has worked hard to make Pixelmator Pro 2.0 a more intuitive application and has given it a modern makeover. The team states that ‘almost every tool, every menu, and every button has been updated to make the app more intuitive and more fun to use…’ Further, users can customize the Pixelmator Pro interface, including the app’s list of tools and its toolbar. There are also four new workspace presets to choose from, including photography, design, illustration and painting.

You can see the new ‘Photography’ workspace in Pixelmator Pro 2 here. Image credit: Pixelmator. Click to enlarge.

In terms of tools, Pixelmator Pro 2.0 includes a new Effects Browser, a new Presets Browser (including over 200 new presets) and more. There are seven new color adjustment preset collections and eight new effect preset collections. You can read the full list of updates by clicking here.

Pixelmator Pro 2.0 will be available on November 19. For existing Pixelmator Pro users, the update will be free. For new customers, Pixelmator Pro is available for $ 39.99 USD. You can purchase the app now in the Mac App Store and receive the major update at no additional charge on November 19. To learn more about Pixelmator Pro, click here.

Image credit: Pixelmator. Click to enlarge.

While you do not need a Mac with the M1 chip to take advantage of the new features in Pixelmator Pro 2.0, the software does especially benefit from the performance gains granted by the M1 chip. You can learn more about the M1 chip and the new Macs by checking out our coverage.

Via 9to5Mac

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Nikon brings its Webcam Utility out of beta, adds support for macOS computers

05 Nov

Nikon has released the first non-beta version of its free webcam utility for macOS and Windows computers.

Back in July, Nikon announced it was working on a webcam utility that would turned select Nikon cameras into webcams with compatible videoconferencing and streaming software. In August, they followed through on that promise with the release of a beta utility for Windows 10 users. Nikon confirmed a macOS version was on the way, but that has yet to be seen—until today.

In addition to being the first non-beta version of the app for Windows 10 users, Webcam Utility Software version 1.0.0 is also available for macOS computers.

As with previous versions of the software, all you need is a compatible Nikon camera, a USB cable for plugging the camera into your computer and a videoconferencing or streaming app that supports external webcams, such as Facebook Messenger, Google Meet, Skype, Zoom, OBS and others. Below is a full list of compatible cameras:

  • Z7
  • Z6
  • Z5
  • Z50
  • D6
  • D850
  • D780
  • D500
  • D7500
  • D5600

You can download Nikon’s Webcam Utility Software version 1.0.0 for macOS and Windows 10 computers on Nikon’s website. Additional information and a full list of compatibility notes can also be found on Nikon’s website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sony announces new A-mount to E-mount lens adapter with built-in screw drive support

01 Sep

Sony has announced the impending release of the LA-EA5, its newest A-mount to E-mount lens adapter. In addition to changing mounts, the new adapter provides autofocus support for Sony A-mount SSM (Super Sonic wave Motor) lenses, SAM (Smooth Autofocus Motor) lenses, and even non-motorized screw-drive lenses in still shooting modes.

An illustration showing the internal construction of the LA-EA5 adapter, with emphasis on the screw-drive motor.

Despite the ability to power non-motorized screw-drive lenses (limited to the a7R IV and a6600, at least for the time being), the LA-EA5 features a compact form factor, thanks to clever internal gear and motor positioning. Sony says the adapter provides ‘full support for focal plane phase-detection autofocus (stills only), wide-area focal phased detection autofocus (stills only), Real-time Eye AF for both humans and animals, Real-time Tracking and AF/AE (auto exposure) tracking for SSM/SAM lenses on nine most recently introduced E-mount cameras at up to 11 frames per second depending on the camera model.’ The supported camera models, as of this press release, are as follows:

  • Sony a7 III
  • Sony a7R III
  • Sony a7R IV (up to 10 fps)
  • Sony a6100
  • Sony a6400
  • Sony a6600 (up to 11 fps)
  • Sony a9 (up to 10 fps)
  • Sony a9 II (up to 10 fps)
  • Sony a7S III

Sony says the LA-EA5 will be available in October 2020 for a suggested retail price of $ 250 / $ 330 CAD. You will be able to find a full compatibility list on Sony’s support page (currently shows ‘Coming Soon’ as of posting this article).

Press release:

Sony Electronics Announces New LA-EA5 Lens Adaptor for A-Mount Lenses

New Adaptor Enables Advanced Autofocus Capabilities When Attaching A-mount Lenses to Latest E-mount Bodies

SAN DIEGO – September 1, 2020 – Today, Sony Electronics Inc. announced the new LA-EA5, a 35mm Full-frame A-mount lens adaptor that allows users to easily pair advanced E-mount camera bodiesi with A-mount lensesi.

Using the new LA-EA5 A-mount adaptor, users can now access the acclaimed autofocus and high-speed shooting capabilities found in Sony’s latest E-mount camera bodiesi with A-mount SSM (Super Sonic wave Motor) and SAM (Smooth Autofocus Motor) lensesii, as well as A-mount lenses that do not have internal focus motors.

Full support is provided for focal plane phase-detection AFiii, wide-area focal phase-detection AFiii coverage, Real-time Eye AF for both humans and animals, Real-time Tracking and AF/AEiv (auto exposure) tracking for SSM/SAM lenses on nine most recently introduced E-mount camerasi at up to 11fpsv depending on the camera model. When used with the Alpha 7R IVvi or Alpha 6600vi, for the first time, these capabilities are possible with lenses that do not have internal focus motors, such as the Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA and Planar T* 85mm F1.4 ZA.

The LA-EA5 combines a compact design, featuring an aperture drive unit and a newly developed compact AF drive unit. To ensure comfortable operation when used on an E-mount camera body, the new adaptor’s diameter matches that of the A-mount, perfectly aligning with the edges of the mount. The LA-EA5 allows easy operation on full-frame E-mount bodies, even when a vertical grip is attached to the camera body.

Pricing and Availability

The LA-EA5 is available in October 2020 for a suggested retail price of $ 249.99 USD and $ 329.99 CAD.

Exclusive stories and exciting new content shot with the new lens and Sony’s other imaging products can be found at alphauniverse.com, a site created to educate and inspire all fans and customers of Sony’s ? – Alpha brand.

Notes

i. As of Sept. 2020, focal plane phase-detection AF is supported for SSM/SAM lenses on the Alpha 7 III, Alpha 7R III, Alpha 7R IV, Alpha 6100, Alpha 6400, Alpha 6600, Alpha 9, Alpha 9 II, and Alpha 7S III. Focal plane phase-detection is supported for lenses that do not have internal focus motors on the Alpha 7R IV and Alpha 6600.

ii. STF lenses are manual focus only. Teleconverters are not supported.

iii. Autofocus is not available during movie recording.

iv. For AE tracking, the aperture is fixed for the first frame while shutter speed and ISO are used for exposure adjustment.

v. Maximum continuous shooting speed is 10 fps with the Alpha 7R IV, Alpha 9, and Alpha 9 II, and 11 fps with the Alpha 6600. Continuous shooting speed may change depending on the attached lens.

vi. The Alpha 7R IV must be updated to software V1.20 or later, and the Alpha 6600 must be updated to software V1.10 or later.


Update (September 1, 2020 at 10:50am ET): Updated the article to clarify that support for non-motorized screw-drive lenses is limited to a7R IV and a6600 camera systems.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Blackmagic adds Windows support for BRAW 2.0 with DaVinci Resolve 16.3 update

10 Aug

Blackmagic Design has released DaVinci Resolve 16.3 Beta 2, DaVinci Resolve 16.3 Studio Beta 2 and Blackmagic RAW 2.0 Beta 2. Together, these updates add support for viewing and editing Blackmagic RAW 2.0 footage on Windows computers.

Just last month, Blackmagic Design released the Blackmagic RAW 2.0 Beta 1, which added Blackmagic’s new fifth-generation color science, support for dual card recording and support for the new URSA Mini Pro 12K. In addition to general performance and stability improvements, this second beta also adds support for Blackmagic RAW 2.0 on Windows computers.

To accompany the Blackmagic RAW 2.0 update, Blackmagic has also released the second beta of its DaVinci Resolve 16.3 and DaVinci Resolve 16.3 Studio programs. For those unfamiliar, the non-Studio version of DaVinci Resolve is free to use, but limits project mastering and output to Ultra HD (UHD 4K) resolution or lower, and doesn’t offer additional support for multiple GPUs, advanced editing tools and more.

The highlighted area on this page contains the download links for the latest updates.

You can find both macOS and Windows downloads for DaVinci Resolve 16.3 Beta 2, DaVinci Resolve 16.3 Studio Beta 2 and Blackmagic RAW 2.0 Beta 2 on Blackmagic Design’s support page, halfway down on the left-hand side, under the section labeled ‘Latest Downloads.’

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Nikon releases beta Webcam Utility for Windows with support for select DSLR, mirrorless cameras

08 Aug

Today, Nikon has announced the release of a beta version of its Webcam Utility software for numerous Nikon DSLR and Z series mirrorless cameras.

Similar to the webcam utility software released by Canon, Nikon and others, Nikon’s Webcam Utility makes it possible to use the live view from your camera as a webcam feed for use with video conferencing programs such as Skype and Zoom, as well as livestreaming production programs such as OBS Studio.

For now, Nikon’s Webcam Utility is available only for computers running 64-bit versions of Windows 10. Below are the Nikon DSLR and mirrorless cameras currently supported:

  • Z7
  • Z6
  • Z5
  • Z50
  • D6
  • D850
  • D780
  • D500
  • D7500
  • D5600

Being this is a beta (version 0.9.0 — not even a version 1.0 product), don’t be surprised if you come across a bug every once in a while. You can find out more information and download the beta Webcam Utility for free from Nikon’s website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Olympus interview: ‘We are extremely grateful to all of our customers for their loyalty and support’

16 Jul

Setsuya Kataoka, VP of Global Strategy, Olympus Imaging Division, pictured holding the forthcoming M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25X IS PRO.

These are difficult times for the photo industry, and even before the COVID-19 pandemic, economic stresses and falling sales had been presenting headwinds to camera and lens manufacturers. Following the recent announcement that Olympus is planning to sell its Imaging Division, we caught up with Setsuya Kataoka, 29-year veteran of the company and current VP of Global Strategy. In this interview, Mr. Kataoka gave us his thoughts on the sale, what it means for fans of the brand, and what’s next for Olympus-branded cameras and lenses.

This interview was conducted through and interpreter and has been edited for clarity and flow.


What immediate impact will there be from the sale of the Imaging Division?

First, I would like to stress that the sale of the Imaging Division does not mean that we will withdraw from the imaging business. We will continue to offer unique and exciting products. Of course there will be some changes in management, and transformation of the organizational structure after the transfer, but these changes are to stabilize the business and strengthen the organization and our operations. We think the transfer of the Imaging Division will have a positive effect on our imaging business.

Based on our current timeline, if everything goes smoothly, we’ll have a Definitive Agreement in place in September, and the new company will be established in January 2021.

Was the sale of the Imaging Division being discussed before the COVID-19 pandemic, or did it come about as a result of the challenging market conditions this year?

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the imaging business, but it is not directly related to this decision.

The OM-D E-M5 Mark III is a genuinely small, lightweight ILC. It’s aimed at enthusiasts and designed to appeal to travel and everyday photographers who don’t want to be weighed down by a DSLR or full-frame alternative.

After the establishment of the new company, will camera and lens production continue at the same pace and in the same factories?

The production system is still under consideration, so I can’t provide any details right now, but please be reassured that there will be no problem with production, whatever happens. Production of existing models will continue.

How long have you worked at the Imaging Division inside Olympus?

Since 1991, so 29 years.

Was the announcement of the sale of the Imaging Division a sad day for you, or are you optimistic about the future?

I don’t think that this is a sad day for us, at all. This transfer means that the Imaging Division will be carved out from Olympus but I see this as an opportunity for our imaging business to grow further in future. This may not be well-known, but JIP – Japan Industrial Partners – is a business investment fund, and their vision is to revitalize and grow businesses by supporting long-term business management. This is why we believe JIP is an optimal partner.

We believe that this transfer is the best step to preserve our technologies, our products, our services and the legacy of the Olympus brand. We are very confident that we’ll be able to continue to offer products that will satisfy our customers under the new arrangement. I don’t expect that anything will happen that will not be good for our users. In all of our conversations about the transfer, ‘user first’ has been the bottom line.

Do you think that your product lineup will get smaller?

We will focus on the high-end market more than ever. High-end cameras and lenses in the ILC lineup. There may be some changes in the product lineup for strategic reasons, but we don’t plan simply to reduce the number of products.

Could an increased focus on high-end products spell the end for the entry-level PEN E-PL models?

How will the sale of the Imaging Division affect warranty and service support for existing Olympus customers?

Please be reassured that there will be no effect. I want our customers to be confident that their products will continue to be supported in future.

Do you think there will be a time when cameras will no longer be made under the ‘Olympus’ brand?

The question of Olympus branding is still under consideration, but there’s no plan to stop using the Olympus brand immediately after the transfer. Camera naming, such as OM-D, PEN and Zuiko will continue to be used.

We will continue to develop the Micro Four Thirds system [and focus on] areas where we can leverage the uniqueness of our products

Do you think that the OM-D lineup will evolve to be a more high-end system?

We believe that our OM-D lineup offers unique benefits that other camera manufacturers cannot. Not only the compactness and light weight of the system, but many technologies that competitors cannot match, such as high-resolution lenses, strong stabilization and outstanding dust-proofing and weather-sealing. I can’t say for sure how these technologies will evolve, but we will continue to develop the Micro Four Thirds system [and focus on] areas where we can leverage the uniqueness of our products, for example in the fields of nature and outdoor photography.

The last time I spoke to Aki Murata, in late 2019, he expressed a hope that the E-M1X would attract photographers who were ‘switching’ from DSLRs. Has that happened?

The E-M1X was developed for professional photographers, in order to withstand use in harsh environments. The development of this product was very important for us. We wanted to meet the demands of professional photographers, and also to accumulate know-how around improved reliability, which we could then apply to other models.

Although the E-M1X does not sell in the same volume as the E-M1 and E-M5 series, it has been accepted by many professional photographers. We are currently developing an intelligent subject detection autofocus update for bird photography for the E-M1X. That firmware is scheduled to be released this winter. Together with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25X IS PRO lens, we’re confident that we can make many professional photographers very satisfied.

Olympus’ flagship ILC (the OM-D E-M1X, left) is far from small or light, but Mr. Kataoka believes that when professionals and enthusiast bird and wildlife photographers see what it can do in combination with the upcoming 150-500mm lens, some of them will want to make the switch away from their current cameras.

How important is that particular lens to your professional strategy?

We believe that this lens will be a very special option, not only for wildlife and sports photographers but for all kinds of customers who need a telephoto zoom. This lens symbolizes the superiority of our system, and we might even call it a flagship. You can shoot handheld at 1000mm [equiv.], and it’s packed with innovative technology. This will be a significant lens, and [representative] of a new chapter in our imaging business.

Do you think that Olympus-branded cameras will ever compete against full-frame professional options, for sports and photojournalism?

We believe that our camera system has the potential to be accepted in the professional marketplace. In fact, many professional photographers are using our system, especially sports and wildlife photographers, following the launch of the E-M1 Mark II. We will continue to gather feedback from these photographers, particularly when it comes to the benefits which full-frame cameras cannot offer.

Given the challenging market situation, where do you see the biggest opportunities for Olympus-branded cameras and lenses?

We are proud to offer unique products that other brands cannot. Especially when it comes to the compactness and light weight of our system. This provides clear benefits to our customers when it comes to mobility. Although the market has contracted recently due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, once people are able to start traveling again, and get outdoors, we’re confident that our products will satisfy users, and allow them to enjoy their photography.

Do you anticipate any job losses after the sale?

As a result of the transfer process, the reformulation of the organizational structure is obviously something that will be discussed. But I cannot give any detail at this point.

Do you think that Olympus as a photographic brand will be in a stronger position in one year’s time than it is today?

I really believe so. I think our position will be stronger in a year. Our manufacturing team, our R&D team, as well as sales and marketing – all of our teams are working hard to make that happen.

We are extremely grateful to all of our customers for their loyalty and support

I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you, for the many supportive messages and comments that we have received since the news of the transfer. We are extremely grateful to all of our customers for their loyalty and support. To demonstrate our continued commitment to our customers, we recently disclosed our lens roadmap, and the development of our 150-400mm PRO lens is well underway. There are no plans to change any product launches coming in 2020. We remain focused on the release of new products, so please stay tuned for news about more exciting future developments.

While the transfer may bring changes to some operations, one thing that will not change is that everyone on the imaging team will continue to work hard on innovative initiatives for our customers.


Editor’s note: Barnaby Britton

The last time we spoke to Mr. Kataoka was in 2015, following the launch of the OM-D E-M5 Mark II. Back then, he was extolling the virtues of that camera’s high-res shot mode, and predicting improved – handheld – iterations of the technology coming in future models. This prediction came true in the E-M1X and E-M1 Mark III, but neither we nor Mr. Kataoka could have predicted that in 2020 – almost a decade after the financial scandal which rocked the company in 2011 – we’d be discussing (again) the future of the entire Olympus Imaging business. But these are strange times.

In the short term, we’re told, nothing will change. The product roadmap (at least through 2020) is fixed, products will continue to be released – and sold – and warrantee service and post-sale support for existing customers will continue as before. While the future of the ‘Olympus’ brand is unclear, OM-D, PEN and Zuiko-branded products will continue to be manufactured and sold.

According to Mr. Kataoka, we’ll see more of a focus on high-end gear going forward, of the kind that he hopes will appeal to professionals. That’s where products like the long-anticipated 150-400mm come in: ‘a significant lens, and [representative] of a new chapter in our imaging business’.

The basic strategy behind Olympus’s development of high-end imaging products seems to be unchanged

Of course, this lens on its own is unlikely to persuade a significant number of professionals to pick up an E-M1 Mark III or E-M1X, but that was never the point. It seems as if the strategy behind Olympus’s development of high-end imaging products is the same now as it has been the last several times I’ve spoken to senior executives: aim high, focus on the differentiators, (i.e., the professed benefits of M43 such as lower size and weight, excellent in-body stabilization, and relatively small telephoto lenses), and court professionals with high-end tele optics, rugged build quality and excellent weather-sealing.

The challenge is that few of these things are (or need to be, or in some cases ever have been) unique to Micro Four Thirds. That said, Olympus has a good track record when it comes to maximizing the advantages of a smaller sensor, and trying to minimize the performance gap using technology.

The handheld high-res shot mode in the E-M1 Mark III and E-1MX is one good example of a technological solution to the small sensor ‘problem’, which provides the option of increased resolution, and somewhat improved high-ISO image quality compared to conventional single-exposure capture from a small 20MP sensor.

We know that new products are coming, and Mr. Kataoka tells us that his team remains focused on delivering high-quality, ‘innovative’ solutions. If things go to plan, according to Mr. Kataoka, a final agreement with presumptive new owners Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) will be in place in September, and a new company will be formed in early 2021. Longer-term, things are less clear, but it’s safe to assume that JIP has done its homework, and believes that Olympus cameras and lenses have a future. As for exactly what that future looks like, we’ll just have to wait and see.

Read more in-depth interviews

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Fujifilm adds Raw video output, gimbal support and Film Simulation modes to GFX100

30 Jun

Fujifilm has issued firmware updates to the GFX100 and GFX 50 models, with the 100MP camera gaining the most significant improvements.

The GFX100 will gain the ability to output a Raw video stream that can be encoded in Apple’s ProRes RAW format by an Atomos Ninja V recorder. This provides a much wider degree of processing latitude than the gamma-encoded, compressed files the camera saves internally.

In addition, the firmware expands the camera’s USB control protocol, giving more control over the camera’s settings when shooting tethered, and allowing remote control of various camera features when mounted on a drone or gimbal.

Face and eye detection AF is said to be improved, as is the performance of phase detection AF in low light. New focus bracketing options have also been added.

Finally, the GFX100 gains the Classic Neg and Eterna Bleach Bypass Film Simulations introduced since its launch.

GFX 50S and 50R users also gain Classic Neg, along with the original Eterna Film Simulation mode in an update to their cameras. This update also adds the subtle skin-smoothing feature from the GFX 100.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Adobe updates Creative Cloud video and audio apps, adds GPU-accelerated encoding, ProRes RAW support and more

20 May

Adobe has released updates for a variety of its software products, including major updates to Adobe Premiere Pro. Adobe Premiere Pro version 14.2 includes GPU acceleration for encoding on Windows, promising export speeds up to five times faster than encoding performed using only the CPU.

For Nvidia and AMD GPUs which support hardware encoding, the new versions of Premiere Pro, Media Encoder, After Effects and Audition on Windows promise vastly improved performance when exporting files. Of the new update, Adobe senior engineering manager Manish Kulkarni says, ‘With new support for NVIDIA GPUs on Windows, exports are hardware accelerated leveraging the power of the GPU to make Premiere Pro more powerful and keep video creators productive and nimble.’

‘This graph shows encoding speeds gains using hardware-based encoding with an NVIDIA RTX 5000 GPU. With the addition of AMD and NVIDIA support on Windows, hardware encoding is now available across all modern macOS and PC systems.’ Image and caption credit: Adobe

Adobe has also introduced ProRes RAW support in Premiere Pro and After Effects on Windows, a very welcomed change that’s been a long time coming. The graphics workflow in Premiere Pro has also been enhanced through the addition of an improved Pen tool with better support for Bezier curves. This will allow users to more easily create lines and shapes.

Further, in After Effects, motion graphics artists have new tapered shape strokes to use when creating animations and designs. There are also new repeating concentric shape parameters and Mask/Shape cursor indicators.

In addition to faster encoding through hardware acceleration on Windows, users can also expect faster Auto Reframe across all devices. Utilizing its artificial intelligence, Adobe Sensei, Auto Reframe now automatically reformats and repositions video across varying aspect ratios. Speaking of aspect ratios, Adobe Premiere Rush users will now be able to automatically resize projects to the 4:5 aspect ratio frequently used for Facebook and Instagram videos.

‘Auto Reframe in Premiere Pro uses Adobe Sensei AI to reposition video within different aspect ratios. The feature is now twice as fast.’ Image and caption credit: Adobe

On the workflow side of things, Adobe has added support for audio files within Creative Cloud Libraries, which allows users to save, organize and share audio assets for easier access through the CC Libraries panel. For macOS users, automatic audio hardware switching has been added to After Effects, Media Encoder, Audition, Character Animator, Prelude, Premiere Pro and Premiere Rush. This means that when changing audio devices, Adobe applications will now automatically switch to the current hardware.

Improving software performance and stability is Adobe’s top priority. Alongside today’s updates, Adobe has published a new blog post outlining the various efforts the company and its engineers have made over the past year. Further, as many performance updates depend upon the user’s hardware, Adobe has also expanded its research into crash reports and how users are taking advantage of the company’s suite of software. If you are interested in learning more about the performance gains introduced with today’s update and becoming part of Adobe’s expanding public beta program for future updates, be sure to read the new post.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sony PRO Support is being extended 6 months for members, free of charge

13 May

Sony has informed DPReview that it will be extending its Sony Imaging PRO Support platform for all members for an additional six months due to the ‘current global situation.’

No press release was issued, but in an email shared with DPReview (embedded below) via a spokesperson, Sony says PRO Support members will have an extra six months of service added free of charge, immediately and automatically. These services include dedicated U.S. Phone support, expedited repair turnaround time, repair loaners, evaluation loaners, camera maintenance and more.

Sony says its PRO Support members ‘are among [its] most loyal customers [and it wants] you to know how much [it] values you being a part of Sony’s Imaging family.’

Email:

Sony PRO Support extended by six months for customers due to global conditions

As a PRO Support member, you are among our most loyal customers and we want you to know how much we value you being part of Sony’s Imaging family.

With the current global situation, we are taking steps to ensure we are supporting all of our customers during these difficult times. For all Pro Support members like yourself, we are automatically extending membership for an additional 6 months, free of charge.

As a refresher, your ProSupport membership includes:
– Dedicate US Phone Support Experts
– Expedited Repair Turnaround Time
– Repair Loaners
– Evaluation Loaner
– Camera Maintenance
– Terms & Conditions for the program applies to
o US members
o Canada members
We are here to support you via phone or email:
M-F 7AM PST to 5PM PST. Saturday 7AM PST to 2PM PST.
Phone: 866-470-7669
Email: ImagingProSupport@sony.com.
Thank you again for your loyalty and support.
All the best,
Sony Imaging PRO Support

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