Adobe has announced that the release candidates for Lightroom 3.5 and Camera Raw 6.5 are available.  Release candidates are one stage away from official release — Adobe uses the release candidate to get test results from a wider group of users.   I wouldn’t hesitate to download the release candidate if I needed a specific feature;  otherwise I wait for the official release, primarily to save myself from the work of downloading and installing.

For example, the new cameras below are now supported.  If you have one of these cameras, you most likely want support for your images from these cameras NOW,  not when the official release comes out.

  • Fuji FinePix F600EXR
  • Olympus E-P3
  • Olympus E-PL3
  • Olympus E-PM1
  • Panasonic DMC-G3
  • Panasonic DMC-GF3
  • Phase One IQ140
  • Phase One IQ160
  • Phase One P40+
  • Phase One P65+
  • Sony Alpha NEX-C3
  • Sony SLT-A35
  • Hasselblad “FFF” files created by the Hasselblad Phocus software for currently supported models are also now supported. (FFF files created using the FlexColor software are not supported)
There are also some new lens profiles available, and some bug fixes.  HERE is the full announcement.
Download Lightroom 3.5 RC HERE.
Download Camera Raw 6.5 RC HERE.