Panasonic updates firmware for LUMIX G VARIO lens

A new firmware was released for the LUMIX G interchangeable lens LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS014045).

Users will be able to download the latest firmware ver.1.1 from Panasonic support sites. The firmware includes improvement of auto focus performance in AFC mode for taking photos. It also enhances performance of auto focusing and stability of O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer) while reducing noise of aperture control for taking movies when mounted on DMC-GH1(Except for FHD mode).

The new firmware was released worldwide at GMT: 6:00 25th of May, 2009 at http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/.

Buy a Panasonic 45-200mm f/4.0-5.6 Lumix G Vario MEGA OIS Zoom Lens for Panasonic Digital SLR Cameras

News via Panasonic

Canon announces manual exposure video control for EOS 5D Mark II

Canon announced a firmware upgrade that will add full manual exposure control for video — including ISO, aperture, and shutter speed — to the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. The mid-range professional dSLR has been lauded for its excellent HD video capture capabilities (1920×1080,16:9 at 30 fps) since its release last September, but after everyone got over the initial excitement of getting near-professional-quality HD video from a dSLR, folks immediately started complaining about the lack of manual controls in video mode. The newsletter, in the form of a mock movie poster, indicates that there has been popular demand for manual controls, and that the new update will leave “no need to compromise with inferior workarounds.”

A press release from Canon Europe, provided a few more details, listing a June 2 date for download from Canon Europe’s support web site and stating that the manual controls when shooting video would include full aperture selection, ISO speeds from 100 to 6400 and H1, and shutter speed ranging from 1/30th to 1/4000th of a second.

Canon did not announce plans to add similar functionality to its other video-shooting SLR, the EOS Rebel T1i, but entry-level consumer users of the T1i may be less inclined to use manual controls for video.

Via ZDNet / Janice Chen

Pentax K20D Firmware Update v1.03 Released

Pentax has released a firmware update for its K20D digital SLR camera. The new version, 1.03, improves operation of the Shake Reduction (SR) function of the camera.

Pentax's in-body image stabilization technology, SR includes a built-in sensor in the camera body that identifies hand movement and compensates by moving a free-floating image sensor. This technology allows photographers to take photos at considerably slower shutter speeds, and improves the quality of photos taken in dusk or low-light situations.

Download and install the firmware from the Pentax support website.

Buy a Pentax K20D 14.6MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction (Body Only)

Via DigitalCameraReview

Secret Nikon L (lens database) firmware update rumored

nikonrumors.com site has an entry about an upcoming firmware update for Nikon DSLRs.

L firmware? L like language database? No, we have that already. Lens database? Yes, it is a lens database introduced for the first time with the Nikon D90 DSLR according to David Busch (he is the author of several photography books). The L firmware is suppose to “allow more sophisticated distance integration” provided by current and future Nikon lenses. Read the whole story on his blog.

Via Nikon Rumors