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Olympus cameras have been around for over 100 years and I for one love the brand but the rumors have now been confirmed. Is it a case of ‘when’ or ‘if’ they go into administration? Let’s air this out in this video and the comments. There clearly are reasons why they’re not making enough money so let’s discuss why this is and how this great brand can bounce back.
Luminar brings search, user experience improvements, 500px integration in the latest update Luminar 4.3 adds a new crop interface, faster Looks experience, photo search, sharing through 500px, and performance improvements.
NEW YORK, NY – July 14, 2020 — Today, Skylum released the latest update for Luminar, version 4.3, focusing on enhancing the overall experience for creatives through several refinements and performance improvements.
“With its vast AI-centric features, Luminar 4 has become a state-of-the-art program for photographers and other creatives,” said Dima Sytnik, Co-Founder and CTO of Skylum. “With Luminar 4.3, we continue to optimize the user experience and focus on performance. We know that, with this update, post-processing workflows will become faster and will help photographers be able to get started quicker and easier than ever before.”
Available as a free update for all current Luminar 4 users, the latest update adds the ability to search photos, a user experience improvement to Looks, 500px integration, a new crop interface, and several performance improvements. It also brings a new space shuttle object, along with several improvements, for the AI Augmented Sky tool.
Luminar 3 users will also see the search function added in the program’s next update.
Photo search
With the new Search tool, photographers can find images in their library with ease. Search lets photographers find photos by name, folder, date, or extension, allowing for quick management of photos.
500px integration
Photographers can now share their photos with other creatives across the world on the 500px photo sharing platform.
Stability and performance improvements
Skylum continues its work on boosting performance in Luminar. With the 4.3 update, RAW files now open faster than ever before in Luminar, meaning photographers can start working on their images more quickly.
With the 4.3 update, Luminar tools also use less of the computer’s memory, resulting in quicker and more responsive sliders. What results is a smoother and snappier experience for creatives.
Those using older or less powerful computers should also see speed boosts to help them enhance their editing and management workflows.
Faster Looks experience
While Looks are a powerful part of the Luminar system, they can certainly add up as photographers bring in more packs and create their own Looks. Looks create a lot of data — everything from textures to AI content-aware tools which adapt to each image. Coupled with the amount of data within RAW files, there can be a slight delay in going through each Look.
Luminar 4.3 solves this issue, allowing photographers the ability to preview looks in an instant, just by hovering over them. In our demos and testing with photographers, the ability to preview Looks allowed photographers to browse them easier and make the decision on whether to go with the selected look much quicker.
Improvements to cropping
Crop & Rotate have seen a big update with Luminar 4.3, being moved to the right panel underneath Lens & Geometry. Photographers can open the tool and crop with ease and quicker than ever before. Windows users should also see a significant performance boost, letting photographers seamlessly crop their images.
AI Augmented Sky improvements
The AI Augmented Sky feature has taken creativity to new heights, enabling photographers to create composites that they never thought were possible. In Luminar 4.3, a new space shuttle object has been added to select from.
The AI Augmented Sky experience has also received several improvements. Photographers can easily flip objects and quickly position them, making it easy to perfect your piece of art! A marketplace section on the Luminar website has also been added, featuring objects for use with AI Augmented Sky.
Custom skies and sky objects
In the AI Sky Replacement and AI Augmented Sky tools, photographers can now comfortably access a custom folder of locally stored skies and sky objects. It’s also now easy to copy and paste multiple skies in the sky folder in just a few clicks, for convenient editing.
Camera support
Luminar 4.3 brings new camera support to recently released cameras. Now Luminar supports the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III (uncompressed only), FUJIFILM X100V, FUJIFILM X-T200, FUJIFILM X-T4, Leica SL2, Nikon Coolpix P950, Nikon D780, Nikon Z50, Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III, Olympus E-PL10, Panasonic DC-S1H, and the Sony A9 Mark II.
New masking brush workflow
The masking tool is now extremely easy to use, as masked areas are visible mid-process thanks to a transparent red mask. Enjoy viewing the instant effect of the tool for pleasant and fast editing.
Improvements to localization
Luminar 4.3 includes improvements to translations for all supported languages, and understands German, Japanese, Korean, Italian, French, and Spanish better than ever!
How to update
Luminar 4.3 is a free update to current Luminar 4 users. On a Mac, click in the Top Menu Bar and choose Luminar 4 > Check for updates. If you purchased via the Mac App Store, simply open the App Store and go to the Updates tab. On Windows, in the Top Menu Bar choose Help > Check for updates.
If you are running Luminar as a plugin with Photoshop, Lightroom Classic or Photoshop Elements, it’s also recommended you rerun the plugin installer.
An expanded user manual is also now available, making it easier than ever for users to search and find answers to questions they might have about the software.
Get your copy of Luminar 4 today!
Luminar 4 is available at a retail price of $89. Be sure to visit skylum.com to learn more and check out special offers throughout the summer.
After Olympus also JIP is reacting to the negative press to try to calm the waters:
Regarding Olympus Imaging Business Transfer
Olympus Corporation (“Olympus”) and Japan Industrial Partners Inc. (“JIP”) signed a memorandum of understanding on June 24th regarding the carve-out of Olympus’ Imaging business to a new company (the “New Imaging Company”) and the subsequent transfer of its shares from Olympus to funds managed, operated and advised by JIP.
Founded in 2002, JIP, a leading private equity firm based in Tokyo, specializing in corporate carve-out investments, targets revitalization of traditional businesses in Japan and has provided capital and management support to businesses carved out from established companies.
JIP’s investment principle is to realize potential growth opportunities by making maximum use of existing business foundation and technologies that the investee companies and businesses have. JIP believes that by delivering value-added products and services to customers and by building an attractive company for employees, the business will be able to realize its full potential and seek growth opportunities.
The New Imaging Company would assume and build growth strategy around the renowned Zuiko, OM and other brands, featuring optical and lens technologies developed and cultivated by Olympus over decades. Assuming the R&D and manufacturing frameworks, the New Imaging Company would commit to deliver high quality and reliability products and services to the Olympus customers around the globe.
On July 2nd, Olympus made a global announcement regarding the latest M. Zuiko Digital Lens roadmap. The lens introduction plans presented in this roadmap will continue to be carried out even after the business transfer occurs.
New product development for each product category within the Imaging business will continue and we will keep you up to date as we make progress.
Olympus and JIP will make all necessary preparations for a smooth transfer of the Imaging business, and JIP is committed to make maximum efforts so that the new company will increase its presence within the global market as a vibrant and energetic venture.
If someone can give an example where a JIP acquired company “increased its presence within the global market as a vibrant and energetic venture.” please comment on this post! Because I haven’t found anything positive about their track record yet…
Panasonic announces new LUMIX firmware update and software programs
Including an update for LUMIX G Series cameras, ‘LUMIX Tether for Streaming (Beta)’ for Mac and the development of ‘LUMIX Webcam Software’
Panasonic has announced the release of a firmware update program for the LUMIX G Series mirrorless cameras, a new ‘LUMIX Tether for Streaming’ beta software program for Mac, and the development of ‘LUMIX Webcam Software’ for Windows/Mac.
The latest firmware update for LUMIX G Series cameras improves compatibility with the new Tripod Grip (DMW-SHGR1) and operational stability with the LUMIX G Vario 12-32mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH. MEGA O.I.S (H-FS12032) lens.
The latest release of the ‘LUMIX Tether for Streaming’ beta software program and development of ‘LUMIX Webcam Software’ increase flexibility for streaming and enhance home-working communications using LUMIX cameras.
Firmware update programs for GH5, GH5S, G9, G90, G80 and GX9
Following the release of ‘LUMIX Tether for Streaming (Beta)’ for Windows, ‘LUMIX Tether for Streaming (Beta)” for Mac is now available. The beta program is derived from the conventional ‘LUMIX Tether’ (Ver.1.7) with an additional display option for the cases where this software is used for live streaming purposes. The new beta program includes a new display option designed for live-streaming, and makes it easy for the user to self-stream.
Originally, the ‘LUMIX Tether’ software program was designed for tethered shooting and therefore its GUIs, such as the focus area mark or control panels, are displayed with live view images on the PC monitor during USB tethering. However, in response to feedback from customers that these graphic items become a hindrance when the software is used to capture camera view for live streaming, LIVE VIEW mode has been added on ‘LUMIX Tether for Streaming (Beta)’. This update enables the display of camera-view only, making it easy for the separate streaming software read. Users can now choose to show or hide these graphic items during USB tethering according to the usage purpose.
‘LUMIX Tether for Streaming (Beta)’ is provided as a pre-release version that is currently still under development. Please note that this software is not eligible for operation warranty and customer support.
How to live-stream with LUMIX camera and LUMIX Tether for Streaming (Beta)
LUMIX Webcam Software
While ‘LUMIX Tether for Streaming (Beta)’ is software for tethered shooting that can also be used to capture camera views for live streaming, the upcoming ‘LUMIX Webcam Software’ makes it possible to use a LUMIX camera as a webcam over a USB connection not only for live streaming, but also for video conferencing, etc.
Available from the end of September 2020 for Windows, and end of October 2020 for Mac.
‘LUMIX Webcam Software’ compatibility with the new DC-G100 is in development and the release date is to be confirmed.
Panasonic is committed to continuous improvement with its LUMIX product line, including the Full-Frame S Series and the Micro Four Thirds G Series, by providing customers with valuable products and services, a part of which are these firmware and software update programs.
･Specifications are subject to change without notice.
There is a new Q&A with Mr. Aki Murata posted on Explora:
With the support of JIP, we believe the consumer Imaging business will have the ability to build a foundation for improving profit structure and managing the business over the medium to long term as a new company, while accumulating innovative technologies and developing a solid brand position in the market.
Don’t know if those statements are just “damage control” or if they are seriously thinking to somehow continue to work on cameras in partnership with JIP.
