Canon recently announced an EOS R6 firmware update to address overheating issues. Does firmware 1.1.1 improve the camera’s video performance? Quite a bit, it turns out.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
 |
As it said it would at the beginning of October, Fujifilm has released a firmware update for its XT3 camera that it claims will dramatically improve autofocus performance.
Firmware version 4.00 for the XT-3 claims to triple the autofocus speed from 0.06 seconds down to 0.02 seconds, bringing it in line with the autofocus speed of the newer X-T4. The algorithm that predicts the location of subjects has also been improved, according tot he changelog.
Overall autofocus tracking performance has been doubled (compared to firmware version 3.30), with faster and more accurate subject acquisition. Both Eye AF and Face Tracking have also been given a performance boost with this firmware, doubling the tracking speed according to Fujifilm.
As noted in its initial announcement, this firmware also allows for autofocus performance down to -7 EV when using the new Fujifilm XF 50mm F1 and adds a focus limited option for pre-determining specific focus ranges.
Although much less exciting, the Fujifilm X-H1 has also received a firmware update (version 2.11) that addresses minor bugs.
You can download and find out more information about firmware version 4.00 for the Fujifilm X-T3 and firmware version 2.11 for the Fujifilm X-H1 on Fujifilm’s website.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
 |
The cameras haven’t even his the shelves of retailers yet and already Atomos has announced its Ninja V monitor/recorder will support ProRes RAW recording over HDMI on Nikon’s forthcoming Z6 II and Z7 II camera systems.
While both the Z6 II and Z7 II have respectable internal recording capabilities in their own right — 4K/60p for the Z7 II out of the box and with the Z6 II via a future firmware update — the addition of ProRes RAW recording further adds to the creative capabilities of Nikon’s latest mirrorless cameras.
Atomos says both the Z6 II and Z7 II will be able to output up to 4K/30p 12-bit ProRes RAW video over HDMI to the Atomos Ninja V recorder when it receives an AtomOS firmware update later this year. Atomos also notes that Nikon’s N-Log profile is fully supported in its AtomHDR monitoring pipeline ‘with the ability to add built in 709 preview, custom 3D LUTs and LOG to HDR conversion for both monitoring and output.’
You can keep up to date with the latest AtomOS firmware updates on Atomos’ support page.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
 |
Negative conversion tool Negative Lab Pro has released a version 2.2 update it calls ‘the most rigorously developed update’ to date, bringing with it a ‘new engine, easier editing tools, and breathtaking color and tone reproduction’
For those unfamiliar with Negative Lab Pro, it’s a plug-in for Lightroom 6 and Lightroom Classic that adds a specific toolset and workflow for converting negative film scans. It rids the need for hand-editing curves and manually accounting for scan densities, making it easy to go from scan to final image in a matter of minutes through its own graphic interface within Lightroom. Below is a year-old introduction to how Negative Lab Pro works:
With that out of the way, let’s get on to the new features Negative Lab Pro 2.2 brings to the table.
First up, Negative Lab Pro 2.2 features an entirely rebuilt engine that ensures the entire workflow can be done with Raw file formats and is non-destructive. Now, rather than there being multiple layers of adjustments atop the image, all conversions and adjustments are made directly to the Raw negative scan (if you convert the scanned negative into a Raw file format upon import). In theory, this should mean there isn’t any loss of quality when multiple adjustments are made on top of one another.
 |
| A screen recording showing how the curves will intelligently adjust based on the adjustments made to scans. |
The new engine also features what its developer calls ‘Multilayer Auto-Generating Integrated Curves,’ which is a fancy way of saying the plug-in is able to intelligently adjust the curves to preserve the tonality and scans as adjustments are made. Negative Lab Pro developer Nate Johnson provides an explanation for how this new technology works:
‘The new engine has its own processing pipeline with 9 internal processing layers working together seamlessly under the hood. Internally, I can define, order and combine each layer in the way that makes the most sense for film processing. For instance, color balancing happens earliest in the pipeline, so your color balance remains stable even if you drastically adjust your tones. Negative Lab Pro then auto-generates up to 42 curve points in real time (14 integrated points for each color channel), which are then fed directly into Lightroom’s curve control.’
Put simply, this new development should result in ‘purer tones and colors’ in your negatives, even as adjustments are applied.
Another benefit of the redesigned engine is improved color stability. Now, adjustments made to the image — such as contrast, brightness and more — won’t affect the color balance of an image. Nate demonstrates in the comparison images below the difference between Negative Lab Pro version 2.1 and version 2.2 when making changes to contrast:
 |
 |
A collection of new tools have also been added to Negative Lab Pro 2.2, including film-specific color temperature and tint sliders, a new color picker, range control for highlights and shadows, and new tone profile families, which provide different baselines for getting started with editing your scans.
 |
| The integrated temp/tint sliders that use the new 2.2 engine. |
If you’re using Negative Lab Pro 2.2 with Lightroom Classic, the update also adds new LUT-based emulations. Unlike Adobe Lightroom 6, Lightroom Classic has integrated 3D Lookup Tables. This capabilities allows the new LUT-based emulations to make ‘incredibly nuanced adjustments to color and tone reproduction,’ which should result in more accurate film stock emulations.
 |
The best part is, in the case of most scans edited with previous versions of Negative Lab Pro should automatically be converted to the rebuilt engine in version 2.2. So, unless you want to make more precise edits with the new engine, you shouldn’t have to go back and manually re-edit all of your scans.
Negative Lab Pro version 2.2 is free for anyone who currently has a license. If you’re trying out Negative Lab Pro for the first time, you will be able to convert 12 images for free before you’re required to purchase a license.
Negative Lab Pro 2.2 is available to purchase for $ 99. The plug-in receives consistent updates and to date, all past updates have been free so long as you own a license. Nate does note, however, that at some point there may be paid updates or extras available for purchase.
You can find out more information about Negative Labs 2.2 in Nate’s incredibly comprehensive update post. on the Negative Lab Pro forums.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
 |
Google has released an updated version of the Google Photos app for Android, bringing with it a few new features, including an after-capture Portrait Light mode, a one-tap editing feature and a slightly revamped editing interface.
As Google briefly demonstrated during yesterday’s Pixel 5 event, the new Portrait Light mode will edit the image to appear as though there’s light coming from a light source not actually in the image. While limited to Google’s new Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 devices for the time being, this feature lets you apply ‘lighting’ in post-production by editing the image to appear as though it’s coming from a specific direction.
As noted by PetaPixel, it’s possible this new adjustable lighting technology is derived from a research project Google participated in back in 2019. Google says this feature will be coming to other Pixel devices, but doesn’t specify which ones or a definitive timeframe.
Also included in this Google Photos update is a one-tap editing feature that uses ‘machine learning to give you suggestions that are tailored to the specific photo you’re editing.’ In its current form, only three suggestions are available: Black and White, color Pop and Enhance, but Google says more options for landscapes, portraits and more will be available ‘in the coming months.’
Google has also changed the user interface (UI) of the manual editing tools. There’s now a scrollable toolbar at the bottom with round buttons and icons, akin to the interface of Apple’s Photo app, VSCO and others. This updated interface, in theory, makes it easier to quickly find the settings you need and make the appropriate adjustments.
This update will go live in the Google Play Store this week. If you don’t already have the Google Photos app, you can download it for free; if you do, be sure to keep an eye out for updates. Google hasn’t specified whether or not we’ll see these new features and redesign make their way to the iOS version of the app.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
 |
Ahead of Luminar AI’s release this holiday season, Skylum Software has shared additional information about how Templates will work in the upcoming all-in-one photo editing software and how Templates can be used to save photographers a lot of time and energy when processing many images.
In many traditional photo editors, users must adjust different sliders to get the desired results when processing images. There are often available presets, which will speed up the editing process, but presets have limitations, and photographers are often left feeling like their creativity has been removed from the editing process. Ideally, many of us want to save time without sacrificing creative control. Skylum believes that Luminar AI’s Templates will remove the frustration and overcome the limitations of presets in other photo editors.
 |
| Photo credit: Elia Locardi |
The artificial intelligence in Luminar AI has been integrated throughout the entire editing process and has been trained with ‘expert input from artists, photographers, colorists and scientists.’ Alex Tsepko, Skylum’s CEO, says, ‘With Luminar AI, we wanted to ensure that AI not only was easy to use, but that it also provided creatives a way to express themselves. Through our unique 3D depth-mapping and segmentation technologies, we’re able to recognize the contents of a photo, recommended edits and then allow creatives to refine every aspect of that recommendation. Doing this lets creatives retain their unique style in their edits without tedious, manual work. Professional results, but in a fraction of the time.’
Artificial intelligence starts operating as soon as you open an image in Luminar AI. The software identifies the contents of an image, analyzes potential problem spots, and evaluates the depth of the image. Luminar AI then offers a list of carefully selected Templates for users to select from.
Users can test out different Templates and see how they impact their image. Skylum states that a preview is created in less than a second. When you evaluate a specific Template you can even see which AI tools were utilized in the Template. For beginners, it should prove useful to see which tools are used to create different images and how each tool changes the look and feel of a photo.
 |
| Photo credit: Javier Pardina |
Templates will offer novices a variety of ideas to help choose the direction they want to take an image. For advanced photographers with more editing experience, they can choose when and how they want more advanced manual control over their image edits. They can pick and choose which AI tools they want to utilize and then create their own templates for future use on single images or when batch editing. Skylum states that utilizing templates will allow photographers to save ‘up to 90% of their time spent editing.’
You can learn more about Luminar AI here. For a list of Frequently Asked Questions about Luminar AI, click here. Luminar AI is available for preorder at a special price, which you can learn more about here. As the release of Luminar AI approaches this holiday, stay tuned for more information, including a planned hands-on preview ahead of the full public release of Luminar AI.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
 |
Pixelmator, makers of the photo editing application Pixelmator Photo, has released Pixelmator Photo version 1.4. The new update includes ML Super Resolution, a new tool designed to enlarge low-resolution photos with a single tap. ML Super Resolution utilizes machine learning (hence the ‘ML’ in the name) and the processing power available in Apple iPad devices to enlarge photos, illustrations, paintings and designs while preserving and enhancing details, edges and textures.
ML Super Resolution was designed for the newly released iPad Air and was presented during Apple’s ‘Time Flies’ event last week. The app is powered by the new A14 Bionic chip and Pixelmator states that it is the first AI-powered image enlargement tool available on a mobile device.
To enlarge images, ML Super Resolution ‘creates a layered representation of the image that is over 100 channels deep, detecting features such as edges, patterns, textures, gradients, and colors.’ After this, the channels are upscaled individually and combined back into a single image. Pixelmator states that the process ‘requires up to 62 thousand times more processing power than traditional approaches,’ something that Pixelmator states is only possible on iPad thanks to recent advancements in iPad performance and the dedicated processor in the Apple Neural Engine.
Tomas Andrijauskas, lead developer of Pixelmator Photo, says, ‘The processing power of iPad has advanced in leaps and bounds over the last few years. With these advances, it is now possible to open up workflows that simply were not available in the past. One such workflow is using machine learning techniques to enlarge photos while retaining sharpness and enhancing intricate details.’
 |
| Pixelmator Photo 1.4 includes ML Super Resolution, a new AI-powered image upscaling feature. Image credit: Pixelmator |
Of being able to show Pixelmator’s work during an Apple event, Andrijauskas continues, ‘Our team consists of 20 people and is based in a tiny Baltic country. So it is an incredible honor to be recognized by a company as respected and influential as Apple. It also shows that if you work hard to create powerful, beautiful, and easy-to-use products, your work will be recognized, no matter your location or size.’
In addition to the new ML Super Resolution tool, Pixelmator Photo version 1.4 includes a new split-screen view of original and edited images and support for the Apple Pencil’s double-tap gesture.
 |
| Pixelmator Photo 1.4 also includes a new before/after comparison tool. Image credit: Pixelmator |
If you’d like to learn more about Pixelmator Photo and its RAW editing tools, check out the overview video below and head to the Pixelmator Photo website.
Pixelmator Photo 1.4 is available now from the App Store as a free update for existing users or for $ 7.99 USD for new customers. Pixelmator Photo requires iOS 11 or later and a compatible iPad device. A list of compatible devices can be found on the App Store product page.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
 |
Fujifilm has announced a version 2.0 release of its X Webcam utility, which makes it possible to use your compatible Fujifilm X and GFX camera as a webcam with popular livestreaming and video conferencing programs.
The version 2.0 update is available for both macOS and Windows users. The small update adds a new settings control window making it possible to change settings on-the-fly. In addition to basic exposure compensation and white balance changes, the settings control window can also be used to change film simulations and more while the camera is connected to your computer.
 |
As with the previous version, Fujifilm X Webcam works with the following Fujifilm cameras: GFX100, GFX 50S, GFX 50R, X-H1, X-Pro2, X-Pro3, X-T2, X-T3, X-T4.
You can download the utility for macOS (10.12 and later) and Windows 10 computers on Fujifilm’s website.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
 |
Adobe has announced an update for Adobe Premiere Pro and released a new beta for After Effects. In Premiere Pro, which is now at version 14.4, Adobe has added Scene Edit Detection, HDR for broadcasters, exporting with proxies and more. The beta update for After Effects includes a new 3D Gizmo and new camera navigation tools. Both the new Premiere Pro release and the beta update for After Effects include improved performance.
The new Scene Edit Detection feature, powered by Adobe Sensei artificial intelligence, allows you to add edit points in any footage as you import it into Premiere Pro. When using Scene Edit Detection is used, Premiere Pro analyzes imported video, detects original edit points and adds cuts or markets at edit points. You can learn more about the feature in the video below and by clicking here.
Premiere Pro 14.4 includes a new Rec.2100 color space, allowing broadcasters to work with more dynamic HDR content. Additional HDR features include fully color managed and GPU accelerated workflows for Apple ProRes and Sony XAVC-I formats, color space overrides and the ability to set scopes for Rec2100 HLG. Additional information about HDR for broadcasters can be found here.
The next new feature for Premiere Pro, exporting with proxies, allows users to select to use proxies while exporting, such as when you want a quick export that doesn’t require full-resolution media. There is also a new export feature, Quick Export, currently in a public beta. This feature allows easier access to popular and frequently used export settings from the menu bar in Premiere Pro. You can see a preview of this feature below.
Premiere Pro and After Effects (beta) have both received improvements to overall performance. Premiere Pro’s improved performance results in third-party audio plugins now scanning up to 10-15 times faster than before. ProRes multi-cam performance has been doubled as well. After Effects’s channel effects incorporate GPU acceleration, which results in performance improvements ranging from about 1.5 to 3 times.
After Effects’s new beta includes a new 3D Gizmo. This feature allows for faster motion graphics work and improved speed for scene navigation. There are also new camera navigation tools, including support for multiple virtual cameras.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
 |
Canon has released a firmware update (version 1.1.1) for its EOS R6 mirrorless camera that brings with it a number of improvements previously given to the EOS R5 via a version 1.1 firmware update late last month. Additionally, Canon has released a small bug-fix update for the EOS R5 as well.
Starting with more substantial improvements to the EOS R6, firmware version 1.1.1 claims to improve the total recording time on the EOS R6. No specific performance increase metrics are given beyond saying the limit has been ‘improved,’ but we plan to put it to the test to find out.
Other major fixes in the firmware include improved in-lens image stabilization when shooting ‘certain’ RF lenses during movie recording and improved connectivity during FTP transmission. Smaller fixes include improved support with the RF 100–500mm F4.5–7.1 L IS USM lens and a number of menu fixes. You can download firmware version 1.1.1 for the Canon EOS R6 below:
Firmware version 1.1.1 for the EOS R6
 |
Firmware version 1.1.1 for the EOS R5 is less substantial than the EOS R6 update, but is still worth mentioning and updating to if you’re an EOS R5 owner. The only changes include the same lens compatibility improvements for the RF 100–500mm F4.5–7.1 L IS USM lens as found in the EOS R6 firmware update. Specifically, Canon notes the following changes:
You can download firmware version 1.1.1 for the Canon EOS R5 below:
Firmware version 1.1.1 for the EOS R5
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)