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

Panasonic UK is now offering a ‘Try Before You Buy’ service for the Panasonic Lumix GH3 with 12-35mm lens, allowing prospective customers to borrow the GH3 kit for 48 hours (excluding delivery and collection time) from a number of retailers with no obligation to purchase. Barney Sykes, Lumix G Camera Product & Marketing Manager says “The GH3 is by far the most advanced system camera we have ever launched and we recognise customers may want to road test this product before committing to such as high value purchase, therefore we are delighted to be able to offer this scheme to our key retail partners to help increase their sales opportunities.” Click through / read on for a list of participating retailers.

Nikon has posted a firmware update for the Nikon 1 V1 compact system camera. Version 1.21 addresses the following issue: Immediately after the camera was turned on after attaching a lens, shooting display in the camera monitor or electronic viewfinder (view through the lens) sometimes appeared to move. You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: Nikon 1 V1 Firmware Update 1.21

Sony has posted firmware updates for the Sony NEX-F3, NEX-5R, NEX-5N, NEX-6 and NEX-7 (pictured) compact system cameras and a couple of E-mount lenses. Fast Hybrid AF lens support for Sony’s NEX-5R/6 cameras has expanded to include six new lenses. The NEX-5N firmware upgrade also expands its Exposure Bracketing range and updates its raw format version. The upgrades for the NEX-F3/5N/7 cameras add auto compensation for use with the 16-50mm power zoom lens. New E-mount lens firmware for the E 30mm f/3.5 Macro and the E 50mm f/1.8 OSS lenses enable Fast Hybrid AF with the Sony NEX-5R and Sony NEX-6 cameras. You can download these firmware updates - along with those released for the Sony A37, A57, A65 and A99 - through the website below.

Website: Official Sony Blog

Fuji has released a firmware update for the Fujifilm X-E1 compact system camera. Version 1.04 adds full compatibility with the Fujinon XF14mm f/2.8R, improves AF performance in various shooting conditions, and enables the use of the shutter release when an external microphone or a remote release is connected via the camera’s USB port or MIC/REMOTE terminal. You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: Fujifilm X-E1 Firmware Update Ver.1.04

Fuji has posted a firmware update for the Fujifilm X-Pro1 compact system camera. Version 2.03 adds full compatibility with the Fujinon XF14mm f/2.8R lens and improves the auto focus performance of the camera in various shooting conditions. You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: Fujifilm X-Pro Firmware Update Ver.2.03

Olympus Japan has announced that no less than five new companies have joined Micro Four Thirds. The newcomers include Kodak licensee JK Imaging, innovative digital cinema camera manufacturer Blackmagic Design - which has already launched a Micro Four Thirds model, the Blackmagic Cinema Camera MFT (pictured) -, high-speed digital imaging expert Photron, as well as Germany’s SVS-VISTEK and Japan’s ViewPLUS. “With the addition of exciting new products from these companies, the Micro Four Thirds lineup will become much more diverse, further increasing the potential of this advanced digital imaging system,” Olympus said in a statement.

JK Imaging, the worldwide licensee of the Kodak brand name for digital cameras, has unveiled a new Micro Four Thirds camera called the Kodak Pixpro S1. The company’s representatives showed a mock-up of the new camera at a press conference in China. In addition to being compatible with Micro Four Thirds lenses - and possibly other MFT accessories -, the Kodak Pixpro S1 will also offer smartphone connectivity over Wi-Fi. Other details are vague but it appears that the new Kodak-branded CSC will be equipped with a Sony sensor, just like Olympus’ newer MFT offerings.

Kodak has been a member of the Four Thirds consortium since the latter’s inception in 2002. JK Imaging’s adoption of Micro Four Thirds standard was announced today.

Via PR Photo Credit: PConline

Nikon UK has extended its cashback promotion on the Nikon 1 J1 and J2 camera kits until 31st January 2013. UK and ROI residents purchasing the Nikon 1 J1 or Nikon 1 J2 single- or double-lens camera bundles will now be able to claim £50 /€60 cashback until the end of January. For more information on the promotion, and how to submit your claim, visit the website below.