Canon today announced that the company’s interchangeable-lens digital cameras (including DSLRs and CSCs) have consistently maintained the No. 1 share worldwide in terms of volume within the interchangeable-lens digital camera market for the past 10 years. In 2003, Canon introduced its breakthrough EOS 300D Digital Rebel, which set the stage for growth in the digital SLR camera market. Since that time, the company has launched a number of models targeting advanced-amateur users - including the EOS 5D series, which paved the way for serious digital SLR video recording, starting with the 5D Mark II. In 2012, Canon celebrated the 25th anniversary of the introduction of the EOS camera system and marked its 10th consecutive year as the market’s world leader. During the year, Canon launched the compact-system EOS M, aimed at expanding the company’s entry-level user base, along with the EOS 6D, the world’s smallest and lightest digital SLR camera equipped with a 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor. This year, Canon introduced the EOS 100D / Rebel SL1 (pictured), which is billed as the world’s smallest and lightest DSLR camera equipped with an APS-C-size sensor.

Pentax Ricoh have posted a firmware update for the Pentax Q compact system camera. Version 1.12 corrects a bug related to the Smart Effect, "Tone Expansion." This effect is supposed to produce a dramatic, "quasi-HDR" image but users who have updated their camera firmware to version 1.11 when that update came out have found that the effect was no longer applied. This issue is resolved in version 1.12, which you can download from the website below.

Website: Pentax Q Downloads: Firmware Update

We spent some quality time with the new Panasonic GF6 Micro Four Thirds camera at last week’s European Launch, held in sunny Vienna, Austria, to deliver you an extensive hands-on preview. Click through / read on to find out what the buzz is all about.

Panasonic has released a Full HD sample movie shot with the new Panasonic Lumix GF6 compact system camera. The one-and-a-half-minute Panasonic GF6 sample video is made up of seven sequences shot in a variety of outdoor locations. Click through / scroll down to see the movie.

The Nikon D4 FX-format digital SLR camera; the Nikon 1 V2, J3, and S1 compact system cameras and the Nikon Coolpix S01 digital compact camera have been awarded the “red dot award: product design 2013”, sponsored by Germany’s Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen. This year, 4,662 products from 1,865 companies in 54 countries were entered in the competition. Winners will be on display from July 2, 2013 to July 28, 2013 in the “Design on stage – winners red dot award: product design 2013” exhibition at the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen Germany.

Want to see exactly what the new Panasonic Lumix GF6 looks like in the flesh? We have compiled a hands-on gallery for your perusal.

The Panasonic GF6 is a new 16-megapixel compact system camera with a 180° tilting touchscreen, built-in Wi-Fi and NFC support, and improved low-light auto focus. Successor to the GF5, the new Lumix GF6 features the latest-generation Venus image processing engine (the same as that of the range-topping GH3), which promises better noise filtering and improved dynamic range utilisation. The hinged rear screen, which can be rotated approximately 180° to face the subject, boasts a resolution of 1,040,000 dots and delivers enhanced visibility in broad daylight. The integrated Wi-Fi module allows for features like remote shooting, instant image transfer and the ability to play back your photographs on a DLNA compliant Viera HDTV; while the novel NFC (Near-Field Communication) capability opens up new ways for the camera to wirelessly interact with your NFC-enabled smartphone or tablet. Other highlights include Full HD video recording, a Creative Panorama mode that enables you to apply a number of digital filters to your panoramic images, stop-motion animation, and a Clear Retouch function that allows users to clone out unwanted elements from a photo in-camera. The Panasonic Lumix GF6 will be available from the end of May, priced at £499 with the 14-42mm II lens and £649 in a double-zoom kit with the 45-150mm Mega O.I.S.

Panasonic and Rankin Film Productions (RFP) have released the first “GH3-minute movie,” entitled Hertz. Three weeks ago, we wrote that Panasonic had partnered with RFP to produce three 3-minute films using three Lumix GH3 cameras. The partnership represents a unique way of promoting the camera and aims to further demonstrate the credentials and benefits a CSC has for “harnessing the creative visions of up-and-coming talent,” Panasonic says. Click through / scroll down to watch Hertz, the first “GH3-minute movie” in the series.

The Olympus Stylus TG-2 and the Olympus PEN Lite (E-PL5) cameras have each been hounoured with a Red Dot design award in the “Entertainment Technology and Cameras” category. The shock, frost, crush and waterproof Stylus TG-2 convinced the jury with its “combination of brawn and brains,” whereas the Olympus E-PL5 (pictured) won over the jusrors thanks to its “cutting-edge technology in a compact design matched with exceptional user-friendliness.” A third Red Dot design award was bestowed in the “Life Science and Medicine” category to the Olympus THUNDERBEAT system. The awards will be conferred on 1 July 2013 as part of the annual Red Dot gala.

Panasonic has issued a firmware update for the Lumix DMC-GH3 compact system camera. As promised earlier, Version 1.1 enables users to connect their camera to a PC over Wi-Fi by inputting the computer’s name, and add a 60p, 28Mbps Full HD video recording mode for MP4 movies. The firmware update also enhances AF speed and continuous shooting performance when using the camera in AF-C mode in conjunction with the 14-42mm, 40-150mm and 45-175mm lenses; and incorporates a number of bug fixes and improvements.

Website: Panasonic Japan

Samsung today announced that the Samsung NX300 compact system camera will be commercially available in the UK at the end of March from John Lewis and Dixons. Unveiled at CES in January, the NX300 is the new flagship model in the NX series and boasts the updated version of SMART Camera 2.0, a hub of innovative connectivity features. Highlights include a 20-megapixel imager with on-sensor phase detection AF sensors, an articulated OLED touchscreen, Wi-Fi connectivity, a sensitivity range of ISO100/21°—ISO25,600/45°, a maximum shutter speed of 1/6000 sec,  8.6fps continuous shooting, a 5-way manual key interface and i-Depth, an easy and simple way to adjust the depth-of-field of an image using the NX Series’ unique i-Function system.

Olympus UK has announced a new promotion on the Olympus OM-D E-M5. From Good Friday (March 29th) Olympus are giving OM-D customers a saving of £150 off bodies and kits. This means that the body will be available for £849.99 while the M.Zuiko 12-50mm lens kit can be bought for £999.99. Additionally, Olympus are extending their offer on free accessories (worth up to £330) when bought with the OM-D to midnight on April 1st from the original end date of March 31st. This offer allows purchasers of the OM-D to get a head start with their camera kit by offering up the choice of either a free HLD-6 Battery Grip or the M.Zuiko 45mm f:1.8 portrait lens (read review) as well as an essential spare battery.

The Samsung NX1100 is a new 20-megapixel NX system camera with built-in wireless connectivity. In an unusual move, the NX1100 was not announced by Samsung themselves but by B&H Photo Video, which is currently accepting pre-orders for a kit comprising the camera body - in either black or white -, a 20-50mm f/3.5-5.6 ED II lens, an external flash and a DVD-ROM version of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. Headline specifications are similar to those of the NX1000; including a 20.3 megapixel APS-C sized CMOS sensor, 8fps continuous shooting, a 3-inch/921k-dot rear display, Full HD video recording at 30fps, and integrated Wi-Fi. With the free Samsung Smart Camera app, you can instantly back up the images, share them directly to social media sites and use a smartphone as a remote viewfinder and shutter release. The Samsung NX1100 bundle is available to pre-order for $699.

Samsung UK today announced that the brand new Samsung NX300 camera will come bundled with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4. Recently launched at CES, the NX300 is the latest model in Samsung’s NX range. Key specifications include a twenty-megapixel imager with on-sensor phase detection AF sensors, an articulated OLED touchscreen and Wi-Fi connectivity. Other highlights include a sensitivity range of ISO100/21°—ISO25,600/45°, a maximum shutter speed of 1/6000 sec,  8.6fps continuous shooting, a 5-way manual key interface and i-Depth, an easy and simple way to adjust the depth-of-field of an image using the NX Series’ unique i-Function system. Shipping in March, the Samsung NX300 will come with a copy of Lightroom 4, which normally sells for more than £100.

Panasonic has announced the upcoming release of firmware updates for the Lumix GH3 compact system camera and three Micro Four Thirds lenses. Scheduled to be available later this month, the Panasonic GH3 firmware upgrade will enable users to connect their camera to a PC over Wi-Fi by inputting the computer’s name, and add a 60p, 28Mbps Full HD video recording mode for MP4 movies. The firmware updates will also enhance AF speed and continuous shooting performance when using the camera in AF-C mode in conjunction with the 14-42mm, 40-150mm and 45-175mm lenses.

Panasonic has signed a partnership agreement with the Rankin Film Productions (RFP) to produce three 3-minute films using three Lumix GH3 cameras.  Aptly named ‘GH3-Minute Movies’, this campaign will showcase the GH3’s videography capabilities. Panasonic Lumix G product manager Barnaby Sykes commented: “We are excited about the prospect of what our latest Lumix GH3 can offer to creative filmmakers and wanted to find the right partner to help explore those possibilities. As soon as we met RFP’s roster of young director talent we knew we’d found the right team to put it to the test.” The ‘GH3-Minute Films’ will be released at the end of March and will be showcased across Panasonic’s digital and social platforms.

Pentax Ricoh have released firmware updates for the Pentax K-01 system camera and the Pentax K-30 dSLR (pictured). Version 1.03 fixes a bug related to contrast-detect auto focus, which was introduced by firmware version 1.02. You can download the updates from the websites below.

Website: Pentax K-01 Firmware Update 1.03
Website Pentax K-30 Firmware Update 1.03

Want to see exactly what the new Sony NEX-3N compact system camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Sony NEX-3N compact system camera, including a side-by-side comparison with the previous NEX-F3 model and the more expensive NEX-5R camera.

The Sony NEX-3N is the world’s smallest, lightest interchangeable lens camera (with an APS-C sensor and built-in flash), weighing just 210g. The NEX-3N has a 16.1 megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor, 180° tiltable 3-inch LCD screen, pop-up flash, and a zoom lever. The new light, compact NEX-3N interchangeable lens camera from Sony is available in the UK from mid-March 2013, priced at £400 with the 16-50mm power zoom lens and £600 with the 16-50mm power zoom and 55-210mm lenses.

Pentax Ricoh has posted a firmware update for the Pentax Q10 small-sensor compact system camera. Version 1.01 improves overall stability and the performance of the camera’s contrast-detect AF system. You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: PENTAX Firmware Update Software for PENTAX Q10