If you've been getting the "ERR 99" message on your Canon camera, here's a copy of a tech support email from Canon.  In our somewhat limited experience, the error can be remedied simply by replacing the CF card or checking to see that the pins aren't bent, but here's the whole scoop:
 

To isolate the cause of the issue, we suggest that you do the
following:

1. Turn off the camera.
2. Remove the lens, battery, and CF card.
3. Allow the camera to sit without power for approximately 20 minutes.
4. Insert a fully charged battery, and turn on the camera.

We’re wrapping up our Fashion/Portrait Shootout so be sure to check out the Nikon segment going up today, but, working on the final installment, our Medium Format Digital Back piece featuring the Hasselblad H3D 31 and 39, the files just demanded a mention here. 
 

We’re always seeing questions and opinions on MFDB cameras, asking if there’s a difference, whether they’re worth it, how powerful the full-frame DSLR cameras are, and to be honest, in a lot of cases the MFDB cameras just feel like overkill, even to us.  They certainly are expensive, and they certainly have fewer features. 
 

In truth, it’s been a while since I’ve played with the files from one of the “big chip” cameras and it’s easy to forget how incredible this hardware performs.  Here, for the record, are three files that were shot with the Nikon D3s, the Canon 5DMII, and the Hasselblad H3D 31.  The Nikon is running a 12mp sensor at full-frame 35mm format, the Canon is also a full-frame sensor at 21mp.  The Hasselblad is sporting a 31mp sensor with a physical size of over twice the format of the 35mm- 48 x 36mm. 
 

We’re going to go into all of the ramifications of these differences in our feature review, but for now, let’s just see some files.  They certainly don’t tell the whole story, but they do, just as certainly, answer the simple question we see so often: “Is there a difference?” 
Here’re the three shots:  Hasselblad, Nikon and Canon.
 

Here are three great cameras, right?  But no camera’s perfect.  For every camera system we’ve looked at this year, we always come away wondering why a camera doesn’t have some feature, why it included this other flaw.  We decided to build our Dream Camera, and it’s not much of a surprise we’re tossing our three big love/hates into the pot and giving it a good stir.  The Canon G11, the Olympus E-P2 and the Leica M9 are three cameras we desperately wanted to love- but came away hoping for “next time”. 
 

Let’s go through the high points of each one.
 

Canon G11
 

Size: The Canon is truly a “Pocket-Pro” camera, and yes, you heard that term here first.  The camera fits into a shirt pocket with no apologies, and it’s always there when you want it.  The best camera is the camera you have with you, and this little thing is coming with you everywhere.
 

Price: The G11 sells on the street for just under $450.  It’s a whole lot of camera for that money.  For a pro, it’s cheap enough to carry as a backup into any situation, hazardous or not.  For an amateur, it’s not too much to spend to get a good starter, with RAW files, and full manual and auto controls.  It can be whatever camera it needs to be- the definition of an entry model. 

Ain't it always the way?  Testing 7D rendering today...  and by the way, after all that?  It's a drag-and- drop install. 
 

Plugin update page is here. 

If you've been following along, you may have noticed I had a little, eh, trouble, once I tried the Adobe Camera RAW 5.6 beta update from Adobe Labs.  Suddenly Bridge didn't display either my RAW file thumbnails OR my ratings and tags.  I tried everything, dumping the cache, resetting the preferences, even dumping the plugin and trying to put the old one back.  I got nothing. 
 

Finally I got an answer from Michelle Qi (of Adobe, I presume) on the Adobe Camera RAW forum.  Well, let's say I got a lot more than an answer, I got a whole lot of help.  Using the same procedure I've been using every time I've updated the plugin, I'd apparently thrown a wrench into the works. Here's what I did, and what you should NOT do. 
 

First, I moved the plugin that was installed into a new folder on my desktop so it wouldn't be overwritten.  Then I downloaded the new beta plugin and ran the installer.  (Yes, if you haven't done it in a while, it needs an installation, not just the old "drag and drop" anymore. 
 

The update needs the old plugin in place, since it's actually just a patch, not a full plugin.  Who knew?