I’ve now had a chance to check the battery performance on the R-D1 post update (effectively an R-D1s). The battery life is now about half what is used to be. I managed only about 120 shots out of a fully charged battery. 
I’ve modified my article on the update.
Update
Having used the camera more I’m beginning to think it’s a little more complex. If you shoot quickly, then you seem to get more shots. I think…
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Michael Reichmann has placed some videos of his trip to Photokina on his web-site.
They include one on the Leica M8 and another with information on a new open standard camera system for medium format called “High 6″. Hasselblad at the same time have changed their new H3 system to be completely closed, only supporting their own backs and lenses. While on the subject of medium format, there’s a video specifically on PhaseOne - which looks…
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Well it look as if Sigma may have. They have announced a new compact camera, the DP1 (link via DPReview) which features a fixed 28mm (35mm equivalent) lens and a large Foveon X3 sensor, with RAW mode. 
The lens has an actual focal length of 16.6mm, so that makes the chip about 60% the area of a 35mm frame (a 1.7x muliplier). That’s a massive chip for a compact and should give good high…
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Canon have introduced a new portable storage / viewing product (link via PhotographyBlog). It comes with either a 30 or 80Gb hard-drive and a large 3.6 inch LCD. The unit appears to be very compact, supports both CF & SD cards and has password protection. It uses the same batteries as the EOS 5D, 20D, 30D, etc (BP 511A) which should give it a good battery life.
The product appears to be aimed at serious amateurs…
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Apple have released version 1.5 of Aperture with a set of new features including more flexible library set up, new sharpening controls, advanced colour controls, support for all Intel-based Macs, a plug-in API and exporting of data to XMP files.
Crucially, the new library system allows Aperture to (finally) index off-line images, producing high resolution preview JPEGs for those that you have archived to DVD/CD. It also includes a set of tools to re-link to files…
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Epson are to introduce a new 3800 Pro printer (link via PhotographyBlog). It seems to be a baby to the 4800 Pro, only handling cut-sheet paper and using smaller 80ml ink cartridges. However, it does support 9 of them - meaning that photo and matte blacks can be installed at the same time. The unit is also significantly smaller at 27 x 10 x 15 inches verses the 4800 Pro at 33 x 14…
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A new version of the Lensbaby has been introduced, the 3G (link via DPReivew). The main change is that it now has locking threads to allow more consistent results and better control. The unit appears to be a complementary product to version 2 and not a replacement. Version 2 is seen as a more fluid and immediate tool, with the 3G being a more repeatable, deliberate product.
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Seitz have introduced a new high-speed digital scanning back. It allows a 160Mp scan to be taken in 1 second. The device is pretty expensive (about the same as a PhaseOne 39Mp 6×4.5 back) and currently only works with their two custom camera bodies - a 6×17cm panorama camera and a 360 degree rotating camera. There are plans to make the module compatible with other medium and large format equipment.
The system involves the use of…
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There are new versions available of both PhotoZoom Pro (now version 2.1.4) and Lightroom (now Beta 4).
Update
Photoshop News has a review of the new features in Lightroom Beta 4. The article includes information about the new development module, which now incorporates functionality from Raw Shooter - the engine for which was bought by Adobe in June 2006.
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My partner and I visited the Format ‘06 festival in Derby yesterday. It runs until the 22nd of October at various locations around the City. There are some very interesting works on display and I highly recommend anyone local to visit. The exhibition isn’t that large and so I’d be less keen to recommend anyone travelling a significant distance to see it, unless you want to of course. 
More information on the exact times of particular exhibits, their locations and content can be found on the festival’s web site.
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