Panasonic has released a firmware update for the Panasonic Lumix GH2 compact system camera. Version 1.1 adds a new 24Mb/s video mode, full compatibility with power zoom lenses, full-area enlargement of the AF area setting, more accurate adjustment of the output of the camera’s built-in flash; plus improves noise reduction efficiency at high sensitivity settings, AF speed in video mode and the speed of consecutive shooting when using the autoexposure bracketing feature; increases the number of recordable images in consecutive shooting; and allows the Extra Tele Conversion function to be turned on and off separately in photo and video modes. For more information on the firmware update, visit the website below.

Website: Panasonic Japan

Ricoh Japan has released an updated roadmap for its GXR system. The chart now includes a new APS-C sensor-lens unit featuring a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor and a 24-85mm (equivalent) lens. The unit is slated for release in early 2012.

Via PR

Olympus has released firmware updates for the Olympus PEN Lite and PEN Mini, also known as the Olympus E-PL3 and E-PM1. Version 1.1 for both models improves reliability while using an Eye-Fi card. You can update the camera firmware from within the Digital Camera Updater software, while the camera connected to the computer.

Beginning tomorrow, Olympus will be offering £50 (€50 in Ireland) cashback on purchases of all E-PL3 and E-PM1 kits. The offer is valid on purchases made between 15 November 2011 and 15 January 2012, and is applicable to the UK and Ireland only. Claims can be made via the website below, and must be received by midnight, 15 February 2012. As always, we suggest that you read the official Terms and Conditions before making a purchase and submitting a claim.

Website: Olympus PEN Promotions

Panasonic UK’s retail support team has partnered up with Jacobs Photo to demonstrate the new GX1 compact system camera. The Jacobs in-store previews provide consumers with their own opportunity for hands on with the camera, before it will go on general sale from mid December. Click through / read on for exact dates and locations.

Want to see exactly what the new Panasonic GX1 looks like in the flesh?

Then check out our extensive hands-on gallery of photos of Panasonic’s premium compact system camera.

The Panasonic LUMIX GX1 is a new premium compact system camera. With a chic style, exceptional image quality and intuitive features, the 16 megapixel Panasonic GX1 offers an ISO range of 100-12800, auto-focus speed of 0.09 seconds, full HD 1080i video recording, a 3 inch screen with 460k dots, built-in pop-up flash, and 4.2fps burst mode at full resolution. Available in Gunmetal Grey and Raven Black, the GX1 will be available from mid December priced at £499.99 body only, £599.99 with the standadr 14-42mm kit lens, and £729.99 with the 14-42mm power-zoom lens (from mi January 2012).

Panasonic have announced a new firmware update for the DMC-GH2 compact system camera. Available at the beginning of December, the new update adds a 24Mbps bit rate, support for Power Zoom lenses, full area enlargement of AF area setting, better AF performance in video recording, and several other improvements.

Pentax has issued a firmware update for the Pentax Q compact system camera. Version 1.01 promises enhanced resolution when the in-camera sharpening level is set to “Fine Sharpness”, and improves overall stability. You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: Pentax Japan

Pentax are offering £100 cashback on the Q compact system camera and £90 on the K-5 DSLR. Both cash back campaigns will run from 1st November to 31 December 2011. Consumers can visit www.pentax.co.uk/qcashback or www.pentax.co.uk/k5cashback for further details.

Olympus has posted a firmware update for the Olympus E-P3 compact system camera. Version 1.1 fixes the following bugs: 1) with the optional add-on electronic viewfinder attached, certain touch-screen functions would not work properly, 2) when an Eye-Fi card was used, the camera would not show the AF target. These issues have been resolved. You can update the camera firmware from within the Digital Camera Updater software, while the XZ-1 connected to the computer.

Warehouse Express is currently running a promotion on the new Nikon 1 system cameras. Those who pre-order either the Nikon 1 J1 or the Nikon 1 V1 today will receive a free accessory kit worth £150. The accessory kit includes a 4-gigabyte SDHC memory card, a lens cloth, a Nikon 1 training voucher, a Joby Gorillapod, an HDMI cable and a Nikon T-shirt. Don’t forget that in order to be eligible, you need to order the cameras before the end of the day, via the website below.

Olympus has announced that the most talented members of its PEN Flickr group will get a chance to have their best work featured on the Olympus website as well as in upcoming PEN adverts. Alongside international recognition, there’s also a financial reward for members whose pictures are chosen for the campaign. For example, generous credits for the Olympus online shop where they can choose from the complete Olympus product line-up, including the growing range of Micro Four Thirds lenses and PEN accessories. Or one of three new PEN cameras: the flagship PEN E-P3, the PEN Lite (pictured) or the PEN Mini. You can join the Olympus PEN Flickr group at the website below.

An exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the Nikon 1 Factory in China.

In the UK, the Nikon 1 V1 (read review) and Nikon 1 J1 compact system cameras are going on sale this Thursday and Jessops on the Strand is opening early (8am) to celebrate the launch. Tech fans will be met by Channel Five’s gadget expert, Suzi Perry, who will be at the store for the event. In addition to offering breakfast for all those in the queue, Jessops is giving away a number of gifts to the first 20 people to buy a Nikon 1 and standard lens kit; including a £200 voucher to spend in Jessops (which can’t be redeemed against the Nikon 1 kit itself, but can be used to buy accessories such as additional lenses), a £100 voucher to spend on Nikon’s in-house training scheme and a Sandisk Extreme HD 8GB SDHC memory card. The store is located at 443 The Strand, London, WC2R 0QU.

Panasonic has issued firmware updates for its Lumix DMC-G3 and GF3 compact system cameras. Version 1.2 (for both models) optimises the operation of regular Four Thirds lenses when mounted to these cameras via the appropriate adapter. You can update your camera’s firmware by following the instructions on the website below.

Website: Panasonic Japan

Fujifilm are set to enter the compact system camera market in the Spring of 2012. According to reports from attendees at an X10 press event in Japan, a prototype of a new mirror-less Fujifilm X camera will be shown at CES 2012 in January, ahead of a full launch later in the Spring. Optimum image quality is the intended aim, as “The clear objective in the development of lenses, sensor and processor technology (is) to achieve the highest image quality.”, according to a translated press release from the German website Photoscala. The new camera follows hard on the successful heels of the incredibly popular X100 (pictured).

Fuijfilm are also planning to release the XS-1 superzoom camera, which has a 2/3” EXR CMOS sensor and a 26x zoom lens, with a mockup on display at the aforementioned press event in Tokyo.

UPDATE: Mr Komori from Fujifilm Japan gave an overview yesterday of the future X series roadmap. It has been confirmed that Fujifilm will announce an interchangeable ‘mirrorless’ system camera. It will be launched in the UK in the first half of 2012. Specification, launch date and pricing are to be confirmed.

Fujifilm will seek to create another new market segment with the introduction of a truly high end bridge camera, the X-S1, which will feature a 2/3” X series sensor and a new high resolution, 26X zoom lens. The X-S1 will be launched in the UK in early 2012. Precise specification, launch date and pricing will be confirmed shortly.

Finally, the price of the recently announced Fujifilm X10 will be £529 in the UK.

DxO Labs have published their detailed findings on the raw sensor performance of the new Nikon 1 J1 and V1 cameras. Although the two models share the same 10-megapixel, CX-sized sensor, the overall DxOMark Sensor Scores are slightly different (56 for the J1 and 54 for the V1). The company notes that “these differences are so small that they are well within the limits of measurement uncertainty and variances in manufacturing quality”. Interestingly, the Nikon 1 J1 achieved the exact same score as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, despite having a significantly smaller sensor. A look at the individual components of the overall score reveals that the Panasonic G3’s imager has a lot better high-ISO performance but the Nikon sensor boasts a somewhat wider dynamic range and a slightly greater colour depth.

Website: DxOMark