Photographers who buy a Samsung NX300 will receive £30/€35 cashback and a free camera case. The offer is available by redemption on purchases made until 31 March 2014 at participating retailers. The promotion can be activated online at the website below.

See exactly what the new Sony A6000 compact system camera looks like in the flesh.

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of 58 photos of the Sony A6000 compact system camera, including both the silver and black versions.

The Sony A6000 compact system camera features the world’s fastest autofocus amongst interchangeable lens cameras. The A6000's Fast Hybrid AF system produces an autofocus performance of just 0.06 sec with high precision accuracy and an extremely wide autofocus coverage area with 179 focal points. The Sony A6000 also features a 24.3 megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor, BIONZ X processor, built-in flash, OLED Tru-Finder, two control dials, NFC and Wi-Fi and downloadable PlayMemories Camera Apps.

Available in black or silver, the Sony A6000 will be available in mid-April priced at £550 body only, £670 with the 16-50mm kit lens, £800 in a double telephoto lens kit, and £1400 with the 16-70mm Carl Zeiss lens.

Dutch e-tailer CameraNu has started taking pre-orders for the new Panasonic Lumix GH4 compact system camera. The company quotes a price of €1,499 for the body only, including 21% VAT. Panasonic itself has not yet announced the MSRP of the camera.

Special thanks to our reader Jan Tengbergen for calling our attention to this piece of news.

Website: CameraNu

Panasonic has issued firmware updates for its Lumix DMC-G6 and GF6 compact system camera. Version 1.2 (for both models) improves manual focusing with the new 12-32mm lens and resolves an issue related to wireless communication with iOS devices. For details on how to install the firmware upgrade, visit the website below.

Website: Joint Update Service for Four Thirds Lenses

The Panasonic Lumix GH4 is the world's first compact system camera to feature 4K video shooting. The GH4 can record in multiple high quality video file outputs - including MOV, MP4, AVCHD Progressive and AVCHD - with 4K video recording in MOV/MP4, and Full HD video with ultra-high bitrate at 200 Mbps (ALL-Intra) or 100 Mbps (IPB). Boasting an improved 16.05-megapixel Live MOS sensor and Venus Engine processor, along with an enhanced fast and accurate Auto Focus (AF) system (approximately 0.07 seconds), the Panasonic GH4 also has a splashproof and dustproof magnesium alloy full die cast body, 12fps burst shooting, 1/8000th top shutter speed,and Wi-Fi connectivity with NFC technology. Pricing and availability of the new Panasonic Lumix GH4 have yet to be announced.

For the first time ever, Sony is releasing Beta versions of four brand-new PlayMemories Camera Apps that are available for free. Snapshot Me ensures better pictures when you hand the camera over to someone else to take your picture, Stop Motion helps budding animators create fun time-lapse movies, ID Photo enables you to produceg valid identity photos for your ID card, driving licence or passport, while Catch Light adds extra sparkle to portraits of friends and family with a bright, white highlight that looks like the reflection of daylight or a flash in your subject’s pupils.

Olympus Japan has announced a special OM-D E-M5 Black Elite Pro Lens Kit. Comprising an Olympus OM-D E-M5 camera body and M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO lens, this Japan-only special edition features a leather-like finish on the outside of the body including the right-hand grip, plus redesigned main and sub command dials. This Black Elite edition comes with Firmware Version 2.0 as standard. Availability is slated for March.

Source: Olympus Japan

Olympus has posted five high-resolution sample photos taken with the new Olympus OM-D E-M10 camera. Shot at sensitivity settings of ISO 200/24° and ISO 3200/36° using the new M.Zuiko Digital 25mm f/1.8 standard prime and the critically acclaimed M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f/2 wide-angle lens, these OM-D E-M10 samples can be downloaded from the website below.

Website: Official M.Zuiko Digital 25mm f/1.8 Sample Photos

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 compact system camera combines the image quality, classic styling and focusing speed of the E-M5 with the sheer power of the flagship E-M1 in an extremely compact all-metal casing. The Olympus EM10 features a large, high-speed electronic viewfinder, 1.440.000-dot, 3-inch tiltable LCD, 3-axis image stabilisation, ultrafast autofocus FAST AF, and a pop-up flash.

The E-M10 is available with two lens kits from early February, 2014. The E-M10 body without a lens will cost £529.99, and with the new, super-slim M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 EZ electronic zoom lens for £699.99. The ECG-1 matching ergonomic grip for keeping a stable hold on the camera will retail for £54.99. The new BCL-0980 9mm Fish-Eye Body Cap lens will cost £89.99.

Olympus has issued a firmware update for the OM-D E-M5 compact system camera. Version 2.0 introduces an ISO 100/21° equivalent "Low" sensitivity option and adds a small AF target to the AF target settings. You can update the firmware of your camera using the Digital Camera Updater utility from Olympus.

Fujifilm has published 15 sample images captured with the new Fujifilm X-T1 compact system camera. Shot using an array of Fujinon XF lenses including the XF14mmF2.8 R, XF35mmF1.4 R, XF55-200mmF3.5-4.8 R LM OIS, XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS and XF60mmF2.4 R Macro; these Fujifilm X-T1 samples were taken at a variety of sensitivity settings ranging from ISO 200/24°to ISO 6,400/39°.

Website: Official Fujifilm X-T1 Sample Images

See exactly what the new Fujifilm X-T1 compact system camera looks like in the flesh, and read our first hands-on impressions of this exciting new camera.

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of photos of the Fujifilm X-T1 compact system camera with the XF 18-55mm and 56mm f/1.2 lenses, and including the new battery grip and flash accessories.

The Fujifilm X-T1 is a new interchangeable lens camera with SLR-style handling. The X-T1 features a 2.36m dot resolution OLED electronic viewfinder with the world’s highest magnification and a lag-time of just 0.005 sec, phase detection AF with a world-beating response of just 0.08sec, five mechanical dials, dust and water resistance, and the world’s first compatibility with Ultra High Speed UHS-II SDXC memory cards.

The X-T1 and dedicated accessories will be available from mid-end February 2014. In the UK, the Fujifilm X-T1 will cost £1099.99 body-only, or £1449.99 with the XF18-55mm lens. The optional Vertical Battery Grip costs £199.99, the all-Leather Half Case £99.99, and the Metal Hand Grip £129.99.

Fujifilm is also launching three weather-resistant zoom lenses to complement the X-T1 camera, all available during 2014, with the XF 18-135mm launching in June. The three lenses are the XF 18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R OIS WR, XF 16-55mmF2.8 R OIS WR and the XF 50-140mmF2.8 R OIS WR.

Sony are set to unveil more new compact, bridge and mirrorless cameras at next month's CP+ show.

In a briefing held by Sony UK today, company representatives stated that a new ultra-zoom bridge camera will be announced in February with a faster processor than previous generations. The mystery product was demoed live with no annoying "Processing..." messages while images were saved, and burst shooting continuing indefinitely until the memory card is filled, albeit at a reduced frame-rate. The new super-zoom bridge model is just a small part of Sony's emphasis on faster speed for their 2014 cameras, which will also encompass faster auto-focusing speeds.

In addition to the bridge camera, new compact cameras will be announced in February, along with new compact system camera models at both the CP+ show and Photokina later in the year.

Meanwhile, the Sony Cyber-shot QX10 smartphone module apparently sold out in the UK during the Christmad period. Aided by strong sales of the more expensive QX100 model, the Sony QX series will definitely continue into the second generation.

Want to see exactly what the new Sony A5000 compact system camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of 30 photos of the Sony A5000 compact system camera.

This week we’re revealing our favourite products from last year in our annual awards, looking back at the essential photography kit that helped to define 2013.

Our eight and final award is for Camera of the Year 2013, which goes to the Sony A7R.

“The Sony A7R is the most revolutionary camera of 2013, bringing 35mm full-frame, interchangeable lens shooting to the masses both in terms of cost and size. Importantly the A7R is also well-built, a pleasure to use and delivers outstanding image quality.”

Read the Full Review

Congratulations to Sony and the A7R!

Fujifilm has launched an online teaser campaign for a new X-mount compact system camera (CSC), which bears a striking resemblance to the classically styled manual SLRs of yore. With a centrally positioned viewfinder hump, shutter speed, ISO and exposure compensation dials; the new Fujifilm X-mount camera certainly looks like an attractive and intriguing addition to the company's critically acclaimed line-up of interchangeable-lens cameras. As indicated by the image above, the camera will be announced on 28th January.

Website: Fujifilm

This week we’re revealing our favourite products from last year in our annual awards, looking back at the essential photography kit that helped to define 2013.

The Compact System Camera of the Year 2013 award goes to the Olympus OM-D E-M1.

“The combination of great image quality, an abundance of features, excellent auto focus, insane customisability and a robust dust-, drip- and freeze-proof body with a well-thought-out user interface do go a long way in justifying the cost...”

Read the Full Review

Congratulations to Olympus and the OM-D E-M1!

The Wi-Fi enabled Kodak Pixpro S-1 - whose first mock-up was unveiled almost a year ago - is a Micro Four Thirds camera boasting a sixteen-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 3.0" 920,000-dot articulated LCD, sensor-shift image stabilisation and Full HD video recording capabilities. The Kodak Pixpro S-1 is priced at $499 for the entry-level single lens kit and $599 for a double lens kit.