The Nikon Coolpix L610 is a new AA battery powered, 16-megapixel travelzoom camera with 14x optical zoom and Full HD video recording capabilities. Featuring a back-illuminated CMOS sensor, 25-350mm equivalent lens with two ED glass elements and Vibration Reduction, the Nikon Coolpix L610 comes with a dedicated movie record button, mini HDMI port and a 3-inch rear screen boasting a resolution of 460,000 dots. Priced at $249.95/£199.99/€249.00, the Nikon Coolpix L610 will be available in red, black and silver beginning September 2012.

Great Photos – Simple Cameras by Bernd Daub is a new title from Rocky Nook. Centred around the idea that with simple camera techniques, traditional film, and some imagination we can create ambitious artwork; the book teaches us how to focus our attention on the motivation behind our chosen image and develop a strong impact without the need for high-tech equipment. The print version of Great Photos – Simple Cameras is now available for pre-order priced at $34.95, with an electronic version selling for $14.95.

Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas have announced that Bloomingdale’s will carry the Marc Newson designed Pentax K-01 compact system camera. Through August and September 2012, the K-01 will be featured for sale in Bloomingdale’s “Check it Out” national catalogue series and will also be available for purchase online. And beginning October 2012, the K-01 will also be available at 11 different Bloomingdale’s locations across the U.S.A.

Nikon has posted firmware updates for the Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 V1 compact system cameras. Version 1.20 (for both models) incorporates the following modifications and fixes:

• The exposure control program used with shooting in Smart Photo Selector mode, or still image shooting mode with Exposure mode set to P Programmed auto or Scene auto selector, has been revised for faster shutter speeds to prevent blurred subjects.
• Auto white balance performance has been increased.
• Exposure accuracy with ISO sensitivity set to Auto 100–3200, Auto 100–800, or Auto 100–400 has been increased with shooting using the optional Speedlight SB-N5 to photograph subjects at close distances.
• The following issues have been resolved.
  - An error message was sometimes displayed during interval timer shooting, preventing capture of the specified number of shots.
  - When the camera was turned on by releasing the retractable lens barrel lock on applicable lenses, there was sometimes a slight delay before the shutter could be released.

Website: Nikon 1 V1 Firmware Update 1.20
Website: Nikon 1 J1 Firmware Update 1.20

The Lomographic Society has released its first iPhone app. As its name suggests, the LomoKino Maker makes it easier for LomoKino users to digitise their LomoMovies with the LomoKino Smartphone Holder. “Now you can scan and digitize your LomoKino movies even more easily,”  the company says. “The app converts your negatives into positives in one effortless step!” The LomoKino Maker app is available as a free download from the iTunes App Store.

Announced in April, the Tokina Reflex 300mm f/6.3 mirror lens is now available in Europe. The 600mm equivalent Micro Four Thirds lens measures only 66x66mm (length x diameter) and weighs in at less than 300 grams, making it remarkably small and lightweight for a super-telephoto optic. Like the vast majority of mirror lenses, the Tokina Reflex 300mm f/6.3 is a manual-focus lens with a fixed aperture. The lens takes 55mm filters, focuses down to 0.8m and offers a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:2. In the euro zone, the Tokina Reflex 300mm f/6.3 is available for a MSRP of €399.

Submissions are now open for Melbourne’s second open?air photo journalism essay exhibition. Prospective entrants are encouraged to submit a photo essay, of up to 10 images, that tell a story. The Long and the Short of It will screen the successful photo essays over a 3?week period at Federation Square. Applications close 5 October 2012.

Pöstyén//Pieš?any-based 84.5mm is a start-up specialising in the development and manufacture of hand-made professional photographic and cinematographic filters. “Our filters are made of special organic glass, which is characterized by excellent optical and mechanical features,” the company says. “The brand name represents the standard 84.5mm width of our best selling filters, which are of course fully compatible with commercially available conventional [square-type] photographic filter holders.” The line-up includes graduated colour and neutral density filters, with a range of stripe filters in the making.  The filters are available priced from €19.90-€24.90 plus shipping through the website below.

Brenthaven has launched the BX2 Camera Collection, a new line of camera bags designed with input from professional photographers. The BX2 Collection features various styles and designs from over the shoulder cases, to high capacity backpacks and messenger bags that fit both laptops and DSLR cameras. The cases are made with a durable and water resistant exterior body material that stays cool in direct sunlight during a long shoot.All BX2 items incorporate Brenthaven’s proprietary extreme foam protection technology to ensure the photography equipment is safe from damage. The BX2 cases and bags are available now, priced from $39.95-$179.95.

Children with Cancer, a UK-based children’s charity, has extended its photography competition deadline to encourage more entrants. The contest theme is simply ‘Childhood’ and there are two categories for entrants: children (aged 16 years or under) and adults (aged 17 years or over). Each entry must be accompanied by a minimum donation of £5 for children and £10 for adults. The new deadline for entries is midnight on Friday 17th August 2012. As always, we suggest that you read the terms and conditions before entering your work.

The Canon PowerShot A3400 IS compact camera is aimed squarely at photography beginners. Offering a 3 inch touch-screen interface, 16 megapixel sensor, 5x wide-angle zoom lens and a very attractive price tag of less than £130 / $150, the A3400 IS looks like the perfect family camera. Read our Canon PowerShot A3400 IS review to find out if that's the case...

The Nikon Coolpix L810 is an affordable super-zoom compact camera sporting a 26x zoom lens. The 16 megapixel bridge-style Nikon L810 has a 3-inch 921K-dot LCD screen, 720p movies and uses AA batteries. Read our Nikon Coolpix L810 review to find out if the budget price-tag is too good to be true...

In support of the Kata 3N1 camera sling / backpack and other bags in the Kata product line, Manfrotto Distribution and Kata have announced the Kata Online Quick Draw Challenge. For this online, interactive game, Kata has lined up four of the fastest camera slingers on the web. Each of the four characters is armed with a different KATA bag, which enables them to draw a camera and shoot quickly and with ease. Users are welcome to choose a character and try to draw their camera at home as quick as possible, and “shoot” their opponent before he or she shoots them. Another option to compete and win is to dress up as the most convincing camera slinger and submit the pictures to the contest. Both games are played via webcam, and 5 lucky winners will be chosen each month to receive a KATA 3-N-1 25 PL camera bag.

The previously announced Canon EOS 7D firmware update is now available to download. Version 2 adds “powerful memory management algorithms” that allow the camera’s buffer to accommodate up to 25 raw files, adds in-camera raw file editing, image rating and JPEG resizing, customisable auto ISO, manual audio level adjustment in movie recording, compatibility with the GP-E2 GPS unit, file name customisation and faster scrolling of magnified images in playback. You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Canon UK today announced the launch of four compact all-in-one Pixma printers optimised for printing documents from the internet and photo lab quality images at home. The entry-level Pixma MP230 (£44/€49) is an affordable printer with print, scan and copy functions, a stylish matte black design and compact footprint. The Pixma MG2250 (£49/€59) is a competitively priced all-in-one device featuring a seven-segment LCD display and Canon’s FastFront design. It can print 10x15cm borderless photos in approximately 44 seconds. The Pixma MG3250 (£69/€79) includes all the features of the MG2250 but offers faster print speeds, built-in Wi-Fi and a free smartphone and tablet app for printing photos and scanning. Finally, the range-topping Pixma MG4250 (£79/€89) comes with a 6.2cm colour TFT display, built-in Wi-Fi and the Pixma Cloud Link, which includes direct access to Picasa online albums, Web Template Print and Google Cloud Print.

LPA Design has announced a new update to its ControlTL firmware for both Nikon and Canon versions of its PocketWizard MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 radios. Available now, firmware version 3.150 for Nikon and 6.150 for Canon include several new features and updates including compatibility with more cameras (Nikon D4, D800 and D800E) and flash units (Nikon SB-910 Speedlight, Canon 600 EX-RT Speedlite and ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmitter), support for the Sekonic RT-32CTL module, and a new optimised rear curtain sync utility control. Compatibility for the Canon 5D Mark III is not available at this time but firmware for this camera should be available in the near future, the company says.

Richmond, Virginia-based photographer Cameron Texter has started a Kickstarter project to fund the manufacture of its invention, the Lynny selective focusing, special effects lens. “The Lynny is the lens system for actually having fun with photography, while at the same time, getting you the most incredible photographs ever taken, all without the single press of a button in photo editing applications, because the special effects are built inside the lens,” Cameron explains. With 3 more days to go, the project needs just over $1,000 to be funded - so if you’re interested, check out the Lynny Lens System page at the website below.

Filmmaker Kyle Hart has launched a new Kickstarter project to raise funds for his “Rhino Slider,” an adaptable, lightweight camera slider that uses 12 bearings inside of 6 self lubricating rollers. “The problem is that most sliders in the market fit into one of 2 categories: inexpensive “friction based” tracks that stick easily, or heavy over-priced full roller bearing units,” Kyle says. “My goal was to create the ultimate slider that used roller bearings, could be lightweight, and adapt to any environment or camera. Meet the Rhino Slider.” The ultra-smooth 48” slider features locking all-terrain legs and micro adjustable feet.that fold up for travel. Interested readers are encouraged to visit the project’s Kickstarter page.

The UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has announced a number of photo walks giving photographers unique ‘behind the scenes’ access to a number of British science laboratories. The science Photo Walks will be held at the Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire (11 September), Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire (13 September), Chilbolton Observatory in Hampshire (19 September) and United Kingdom Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) in Edinburgh (21 September). Photographers will be able to enter their images to a regional, national and international competition for public and expert judging. The best British images will qualify for an international competition against images from laboratories in the United States, Germany, Italy and Canada. Places on the Photo Walks are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Photographers interested in taking part in this free event can register online from 2pm today at the website below.

Boinx Software has released a beta version of FotoMagico 4. The latest upgrade to Boinx Software’s slideshow software adds support for multiple layers, a new timeline for fine-tuned control over slides, improved audio syncing, and many additional updates. To participate in the beta program, simply sign up at the website below to receive download instructions and a temporary licence key via email.