I find several advantages to it:

1. At 5 frames per second on my Canon EOS 70D, the animal moves are decomposed enough to chose the best attitude (e.g. avoiding blinking eyes);
2. I also learned a long time ago that optical stabilization is not the perfect tool to remove strictly all the fuzz and inside a continuous shooting set, the second or the third is often a tad bit more precise, more crispy than the first one (the small move induced by pressing the shutter button will produce a minuscule imprecision that is not welcome on a large-sized  print when the tripod is not available).

Of course, this forces me in comparing thousands of photos. Two by two or three by three, I must choose the best one and dump the other(s). On Adobe Bridge, it goes very fast. But, if -like me) you started regretting the time of simple software prices (instead of monthly license rental costs), you want to go and look elsewhere.

On Windows (it would work on MacOS too), I tried Lightroom but its library management is definitely not living well with my (bad?) habit of transferring files from disk to disk, grouping and backing up in many locations (while handling more than 2 TB of archives). So what can I do? I had to find a better solution, preferably a low-cost one. Since I don’t like the idea of pirating a big executable version (is it still happening today?), I rushed into photo forums  and found FastStone FSViewer which is free for personal use on Windows.

The user interface is not the same as Bridge, of course. But you can easily and quickly compare 4 images. Maybe somewhat faster than on Bridge.

This is a free download and it is a good replacement for Adobe Bridge on Windows (I will no longer need to keep this old version, I can go freeware).

Firmware v1.1.0 new features/changes:

1. Supports WiFi adapter W-E1.
2. Adds a setting to enable or disable automatic storage of the lens, if it is extended out when a gear-driven STM lens is attached, and the power switch is turned to OFF.

Download the latest Canon EOS 7D Mark II firmware.

• Download the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV user manual in English
• Télécharger le mode d’emploi du Canon EOS 5D Mark IV en français
• Descargar el manual de usuario del Canon EOS 5D Mark IV en español

Happy reading.

• Pentax K-1, Operating Manual (English)
• Pentax K-1, Manual de Instrucciones
• Mode d’emploi du Pentax K-1 en français

Have fun reading these Pentax K-1 documents.

• User’s Manual English (for customers in Europe)
• User’s Manual English (for customers in the Americas)
• User’s Manual English (for customers in Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Africa)
• Benutzerhandbuch (Deutsch)
• Руководство пользователя (Русский)
• Manuel d’utilisation Français (pour les clients en Europe)
• Manuel d’utilisation Français (pour les clients en Amérique)
• Manual del usuario Español (para los clientes en América)
• Manual del usuario Español (para los clientes en Europa)
• Manual do Utilizador Português (para clientes na África)
• Manual do Utilizador Português (para clientes na Europa)

Read it well with your Nikon D500.

• User’s Manual English (for customers in Europe)
• User’s Manual English (for customers in the Americas)
• User’s Manual English (for customers in Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Africa)
• Manuel d’utilisation Français (pour les clients en Asie et en Afrique)
• Manuel d’utilisation Français (pour les clients en Amérique)
• Manuel d’utilisation Français (pour les clients en Europe)
• Manual del usuario Español (para los clientes en América)
• Manual del usuario Español (para los clientes en Europa)
• Benutzerhandbuch (Deutsch)
• Руководство пользователя (Русский)
• Manual do Utilizador Português (para clientes na África)
• Manual do Utilizador Português (para clientes na Europa)

• International User manual for Sony A77II
• Sony A77II brochure in English
• Sony A77II User Manual in English

• A6000 User manual
• Manuel utilisateur Sony Alpha 6000 : indisponible pour le moment

Take advantage of this availability to discover all of its features.

And you can also check DPreview’s hands-on review of the Sony Alpha A6000.

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As always helping the user, YLovePhoto found direct links to freely download the user manuals for the Nikon D3100.

• Nikon D3100 User’s Manual – English – File Size: ~ 15.8 MB
• Nikon D3100 Manual de Usuario – Spanish – File Size: ~ 16.1 MB
• Manuel d’utilisation du reflex Nikon D3100 – Français ~6,52 Mo

• Improved response times (no more “processing” message while waiting for display of pictures, faster power-off, faster dial response times)
• Shading and aberration compensation now available on the following lenses:
  • SAL-24F20Z (Carl Zeiss)
  • SAL-85F14Z (Carl Zeiss)
  • SAL-135F18Z (Carl Zeiss)
  • SAL-70300G (G Lens)
  • SAL-35F18
  • SAL-50F18
• Faster and more precise AF

All details from Sony.

• A77 firmware (for PC)
• A77 firmware (for MAC)
• A65 firmware (for PC)
• A65 firmware (for MAC)

Download the Nikon D800/D800e user manuals.

• D800/D800e User manual in English (2.8 MB, PDF file)
• D800/D800e User manual in English (2.8 MB, PDF file)
• D800/D800e User manual in Spanish (en Español)
• D800/D800e : mode d’emploi en français
• Mastering the Nikon D800 [Paperback on Amazon.com] by Darrell Young
• Mastering the Nikon D800 [Paperback sur Amazon.fr] par Darrell Young

If you find another version somewhere, please, let me know and I’ll update the list.

• Photoshop: Panoramabilder entzerren
• How to Reduce Your Depth of Field in Photoshop
• Camera Raw 6 : accentuer la netteté
• Learn the basics of color focus editing in Photoshop CS5
• Photoshop Tutorial Mine : from image to flickr
• Photoshop CS5: Der seltsame “Eigene Filter”
• Photoshop CS5: Tuning für den “Eigenen Filter”

And I will also add a few Photoshop plugins that I could recommend right now.

• Curves by Mehdi offers predefined curves (helping understand the curves feature of Photoshop
• Grain Generator by Richard Rosenman will add all the grain you want to your photograph (excessively configurable)
• virtualPhotographer by optikVerve Labs: 200 one-click preset effects
• B/W Conversion by photo-plugins.com
• Fed up with the work of cleaning out wires from the landscape, not having the fill-by-content CS5 feature? Go and download Wire Worm by MV’s Plugins

According to us, this is even more compelling for the users of the entry-level photo cameras (probably because their users have less background experience to support them while they handle a Digital SLR camera that is much more complex than the bridge or compact camera they may have used before). At Canon, these SLR cameras are recognized by their three-figure moniker (EOS 500D, EOS 550D, EOS 600D, etc.)

With those users on our mind, we searched as extensively as needed to find the users guides for those SLR cameras:

• User manual for the Canon EOS 600D
• User manual for the Canon EOS 550D
• User manual for the Canon EOS 500D
• User manual for the Canon EOS 450D

They are now at your disposal in an easy to download electronic format (a PDF file) and they are free.

• Canon EOS 600D Instruction Manual (17.0MB ZIP file, in English, from Canon Europe)
• Canon EOS 600D Instruction Manual (17.3MB PDF file, in English)
• Canon EOS 600D books at Amazon
• Mode d’emploi du Canon EOS 600D (ZIP de 19,4 Mo de Canon Europe)
• Mode d’emploi du Canon EOS 600D (PDF de 19,7 Mo)
• Canon EOS 600D Bedienungsanleitung (18.4 MB ZIP auf Canon Deutschland)

These user manuals are free to download.

If you detect a change (a user manual which becomes unavailable or which moved to a different location, or a new manual to download), please, tell us about it with a small comment below. The Canon EOS 600D lovers and those who would like to read the manual before buying the product will thank you.

• Canon EOS Rebel T3 / EOS 1100D / Kiss X50
• Canon EOS Rebel T3i / EOS 600D / Kiss X5
• Olympus E-5
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100
• Pentax K-r
• Pentax K-5

It also addresses processing issues for the following cameras:

• Nikon D7000
• Nikon Coolpix P7000
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Supported Languages: Deutsch, English, Français, 日本語, Español, Italiano, Nederlands.

photo credit: yellowcloud

Pentax has announced a tsunami of firmware updates for its SLR photo cameras:

• Pentax K-5 firmware v1.02
• Pentax K-r firmware v1.01
• Pentax 645D firmware v1.01

Canon offers a new firmware (v1.0.8) for the Canon EOS 60D.

It fixes a phenomenon in which captured images may become overexposed when using the camera’s built-in flash or an external Speedlite in combination with the lenses listed below:

a) EF300/4 L IS USM
b) EF28-135/3.5-5.6 IS USM
c) EF75-300/4-5.6 IS USM
d) EF100-400/4.5-5.6 L IS USM

Download freely from Canon.

The main news seem to be the added support for the following SLR cameras:

• Nikon D7000
• Nikon D3100
• Pentax K-5
• Pentax K-r
• Samsung NX100
• Sony Alpha 560
• Sony Alpha 580

Download freely all these upgrades from the Adobe web site: http://www.adobe.com/downloads/updates/ (in English).

Detailed changes

New Camera Support

• Canon         PowerShot G12
• Canon         PowerShot S95
• Nikon          D7000
• Nikon          Coolpix P7000
• Nikon          D3100
• Olympus     E-5
• Panasonic  DMC-GF2
• Panasonic  DMC-GH2
• Pentax        K-5
• Pentax        K-r
• Ricoh          GXR, GR LENS A12 28mm F2.5
• Samsung    NX100
• Samsung    TL350 (WB2000)
• Sony           A560
• Sony           A580

New Lens Profile Support

**These lens profiles were in the previous release but have been updated to address quality concerns.
NOTE: The Pentax, Tamron and Sigma profiles are the result of collaboration between Adobe and the respective lens manufacturer.

Lightroom 3.3 Bugs – Fixed

• Edit in PS CS4 from LR 3.2 did not give option to render to TIFF/PSD
• Process Version defaulted to PV 2003 when Lightroom’s installed Develop Presets are applied on Import
• All Auto-ISO values were not properly handled for the Nikon D3s
• An error could be generated when sorting by “User Order” in Collections
• There was an incorrect Profile Name tag for Canon 18-55 and 17-40 lens profiles
• Facebook album selection only displayed up to 25 albums
• Lightroom 3 could fail to launch Photoshop CS5 if Photoshop CS4 was uninstalled after the Photoshop CS5 installation
• Numerous cloning or healing spots could have caused Lightroom to become unresponsive
• Lightroom could have crashed when the metadata filter is selected and the grid is displaying all images in the catalog
• Lightroom 3.2 could have failed to import all of the images from an iPhone 4
• Some Sigma X3F raw files were rendering incorrectly
• Choosing the “Make a second copy to” option on import would result in incorrect folder structure for the second copy
• Resetting the crop angle by double-clicking the Angle slider removed a custom aspect ratio
• A tooltip for the Japanese language version of Lightroom 3 displayed the wrong keyboard shortcut for “Flag as Pick”
• Paste Settings did not apply to all images in the Develop module Filmstrip
• Smart collections in Lightroom 3 did not use the same definition of “All Searchable Metadata” previously available in Lightroom 2
• Text watermarks or portions of text watermarks could have failed to be applied to images on export
• SmugMug publish collection dialog included a mixture of English text  when using a language setting other than English
• Lightroom would not import files from the Panasonic LX5 that were shot with the iZoom Function set to above 90mm
• Choosing the Limit File Size option in the export dialog could have stripped certain EXIF fields from the exported file
• The Targeted Adjustment Tool may have performed slowly in the Lightroom 3.3 release candidate
• A single image published to multiple collections for a single publish service did not display comments properly
• Updating an existing Develop preset with all settings could have failed under certain conditions
• The watermark drop shadow settings behaved differently in Lightroom 3.2 when compared to Lightroom 3.0.  They have been returned to the Lightroom 3.0 behavior.
• The YYYYMMDD file renaming option was not available when the Lightroom language setting was set to Dutch
• An existing Smart Collection updated to filter for all photos with “Ratings is Zero” would show all images in the catalog
• Publishing an empty category to SmugMug would cause an error
• JPEG exports in the Lightroom 3.3 Release Candidate were significantly slower than the same export process in Lightroom 3.2.
• A graphical Identity Plate included in output was not correctly color managed
• Deleting all images in a Flickr photoset could have caused Lightroom to return an error message
• Changing the sort order to “User Order” while in Survey View on the Mac may have caused an error to appear
• Lightroom could have failed to respond when viewing an image containing numerous cloning or healing spots at 1:1 view
• RGB values were not displaying properly in the white balance tool
• The Smart Collection criteria “Folder starts with” was not working properly
• The navigator panel in the Develop module would incorrectly display threshold information when holding down the alt or option key and applying adjustments
• Applying a flag, star or label setting to an image via the toolbar in the Develop module while in auto-advance mode would result in an incorrect setting display for the subsequent image
• The application of color noise reduction at low color temperatures (e.g., tungsten or candlelight) could have provided results below our quality standards

Camera Raw 6.3 Release Notes
These items have been FIXED in Camera Raw 6.3:

• Camera Raw would not correctly read files from the Panasonic LX5 that were shot with the iZoom Function set to above 90mm
• The scroll bar could stop working properly with over 150 images in the filmstrip
• The DNG Converter could prevent customers from setting a “Destination” folder outside of their Home directory
• Some Sigma X3F raw files were rendering incorrectly
• Embedding GPS information into a Sony ARW file using third party solutions utilizing Exiftool could result in a color shift
• All Auto-ISO values were not properly handled for the Nikon D3s
• Updated Camera Raw default settings were not respected in Bridge thumbnails or previews after applying a rating
• JPEG and TIFF Previews re-rendered as over-exposed after cropping in Camera Raw
• Adjustment settings via the numeric entry field could have failed with multiple raw files selected

Known Issues in Lightroom 3.3/6.3

• A Japanese language file name is not properly preserved when uploading images to SmugMug

Known Issues in Lightroom 3.3/Camera Raw 6.3

• Raw images shot with the Nikon D7000 in Multi Exposure Mode have a strong magenta color cast.  The cast can be partially corrected by setting the white balance using the eye dropper tool. The issue will be corrected in a future update.

photo © 2010 yellowcloud | more info (via: Wylio)

Update: This is now confirmed and the firmware can be downloaded freely.

According to SonyAlphaRumors.com, Sony will present tomorrow a new version of the firmware for the Sony Alpha 850 and 900 SLR Full Frame photo cameras. It should bring:

• Faster Autofocus
• Maximum exposure compensation range: Increased from ±3EV to ±5EV
• Increased exposure bracketing range for HDR: from a maximum of 4.0EV (three shots at -2EV, 0EV, +2EV) to a maximum of 6.0EV (-3EV, 0EV, +3EV).
• Shutter release, even when the camera body doesn’t detect an attached lens.

Download the new (free) firmware from Sony. As soon as it is available. Right now!

The direct link: http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/downloads/downloads.aspx?site=odw_fr_FR&f=FW_DSLR_A850_A900_V2_WIN_MAC&m=DSLR-A850

Canon EOS 7D Firmware Update Version 1.2.3

• Fixes a phenomenon in which the settings of the Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 revert to the default settings when both the camera and the ST-E2 are set to auto power off.
• Fixes a phenomenon in which the Macro Ring Lite (MR-14EX, MT24-EX) and slave flashes do not sync while shooting wirelessly.

Download Firmware Update Version 1.2.3

Canon EOS Rebel T2i / 550D Firmware Update Version 1.0.9

• Fixes a phenomenon in which tone jumps become noticeable in some images, depending on the shooting scene, when shooting with the Auto Lighting Optimizer settings (Low / Standard / Strong).

Download Firmware Update Version 1.0.9

• Increased number of maximum pictures taken in continuous shooting in RAW, throughout the sensitivity range. For instance, in RAW, this firmware increases the number of pictures from a maximum of approx 8 frames to approx 20 frames
• Improved stability for general performance

Download the firmware v1.01 for Pentax K-5

Unfortunately, ArgyllCMS is only a set of command line tools. So, they lack most of the pleasant interface that we photographers prefer to use.

This is no longer an issue when you start using dispcalGUI, a graphical front-end for several utilities from the open source color management system ArgyllCMS, specifically dispcal, dispread, colprof and dispwin, which when used together allow you to calibrate and profile your display using a measurement device.

No need to worry about command line commands and options!

Screenshots

GNOME	GNOME: Gamut Mapping Options	GNOME: Edit Testchart
GNOME: Display Adjustment	GNOME: Measure	GNOME: View Curves
KDE4	Mac OS X	Windows 7

If you are a photographer and you use Linux, you cannot afford not to use dispcalGUI.

Always trying to help the YLovePhoto.com visitors, here are the user/operator manuals I could find on the Internet for the Sony Alpha 560 and the Sony Alpha 580.

• English: Sony A560/A580 User Manual
• Français : Manuel utilisateur des Sony A560/A580 (rien encore pour le moment)
• Deutsch: Sony A560/A580 Benutzerhandbuch (Noch nichts gefunden)

If you found another version (maybe in another language) or if you can suggest a change to this list, feel free to leave a comment below.

We all know how difficult it can be to find the online versions of the SLR photo cameras operator/user manuals in general, and Canon manuals specifically. For a recent photo camera like the Canon EOS 60D, this is somewhat more difficult, and I decided to specially look around for the YLovePhoto readers. Here are the (current) results of my investigations, some PDF files to be downloaded as you would like:

• Canon EOS 60D Instruction Manual (9.14MB PDF file, in English)
• Mode d’emploi du Canon EOS 60D (fichier PDF de 10.3Mo, en français, depuis le site Canon Canada)
• Canon EOS 60D (nichts auf Canon Deutschland)

if you detect a change (a user manual which becomes unavailable or which moved to a different location, or a new manual to download), please, tell us about it with a small comment below. The Canon EOS 60D lovers and those who would like to read the manual before buying the product will thank you.

• Canon EOS 550D PDF User Manual (Canon Europe)
• Books about the Canon EOS 550D (Amazon.com)
• Canon EOS 550D PDF User Manual (local download)
• Mode d’emploi du Canon EOS 550D (PDF de Canon Europe)

You can download them freely.

Download firmware for Pentax K-7, from Pentax Japan web site.

Features:

• Added Movie editing function on playback mode palette. You can divide a movie into multiple segments and erase unwanted segments from the movie.
• Added Electronic Level indication on the Monitor.
• When Mode dial is set M or X and Electronic Level is set to display, exposure meter is indicated both of them in the LCD panel and in the Viewfinder.
• Added [Reversal Film] mode on Custom Image function [PENTAX Digital Camera Utility 4] have been updated.
• When using Live View, auto focus activate by pressing shutter release button halfway.
• Improved focus speed.

Download updater for Windows.

Download updater for Mac OSX.

Main features:

• Fixes a phenomenon in which the set aperture moves when shooting movies in manual exposure mode using some Canon lenses (such as macro lenses).
• Fixes the AF point-selection behavior of the C.Fn III-7 (Manual AF pt. selec. pattern) custom function when set to [1].
• Fixes the AF point display for the viewfinder electronic level when shooting in the vertical position.
• Corrects misspellings in the Spanish and Thai menus for applicable products.

Firmware Downloads from the Canon (Japan) web site: Canon EOS 7D firmware.

• Instructions in Japanese
• Instructions in English

photo credit: eirikso

Canon launches two new firmwares (surprisingly, both hold the same version number v1.0.8, but they are really two different firmwares split at birth for two different cameras).

For the Canon EOS 1D Mk-IV, this is the correction of a bug around the aperture management in video mode.
For the Canon EOS 550D, menus have to be corrected/updated.

As usual, the downloads will take place from the Canon Japanese web site:

• Download Firmware Update 1.0.8 pour Canon EOS 550D
• Download Firmware Update 1.0.8 pour Canon EOS 1D Mk-IV

This new version of Camera Raw, with its new improvements in digital noise management, brings new options of automatic lens defect correction (vignetting, distortion and chromatic aberrations) as shown in the presentation video from Downloadsquad just below. But the best is still to go and download the beta version (unless you would prefer to avoid testing a version which is not 100% debugged by Adobe).

The excellent images handling software program, IrfanView, has just been upgraded to version 4.27.

• Command line options to handle images with scripts (actions) or filters.
• Addition of a border or a frame.
• Addition of new filters and file formats.
• The screen copies options now allow to handle larger objects like a full web page (auto-scroll is included).

Even better, it stays free.