Panasonic has launched ‘A City Exposed’ campaign, which showcases five new galleries of photographs and a short film, taken with the GF2. The campaign presents a diverse collection of creative snapshots by up-and-coming photographer Will Cooper Mitchell, all of which are focused around a day in the life of one City - London. Speaking about his experience with the Lumix GF2, Will comments ‘My usual pro set up is great but the GF2 has freed me up and allowed me to be the photographer who always has a camera in his pocket and never misses a good opportunity – well, almost never!”

Olympus have released a new firmware update for the E-PL2 compact system camera. Version 1.1 changes the default setting of Image Stabilizer (IS) to “On” when converter lens scene mode FISHEYE EFFECT, WIDE-ANGLE, and MACRO are selected.

Website: Olympus E-PL2 Firmware Update

Sony Japan have listed the NEX-3 compact system cameras as discontinued. The eagle-eyed website Foto Actualidad have spotted the update on the Japanese NEX-3 product page. The NEX-3 was launched in May 2010. In related news, Bloomberg are reporting that Sony are planning the “introduction of new models” as they seek 15% market share for cameras with interchangeable lenses, an aggressive increase of 5%.

Samsung are set to release 5 new lenses for the NX system in 2011. In a presentation attended by a Korean blogger, Samsung also revealed plans for three new NX bodies, a 700mm lens and a GPS module. The full lineup is as follows:

Bodies
NX Classic+ - new model
NX Classic - NX10, NX11, new model
NX Style - NX100, new model

Lenses
18-200mm f/3.5-6.3, designed for movies
16mm f/2.4 pancake
60mm f/2.8 macro
85mm f/1.4
16-80mm f/3.5-4.5, designed for movies

700mm prototype NX lens
GPS module

Website: cleanday82

Ricoh has released firmware updates for its GXR camera body and interchangeable modules. Version 1.13 includes the following updates and bug fixes:

• In [A] mode, with configured AE lock and AE bracket; the shutter speed recorded in the captured image may be different from the actual shutter speed.
• Corrects the phenomenon when an Eye-Fi card is inserted in the camera and it turns on the power, it will take time to start up, or the camera will not start.
• Only with Simplified Chinese (language setting in the camera): When you adjust exposure, a number shown in the right side of the exposure compensation slider in the screen may not show a proper number.
• When using the GXR camera unit with the GR LENS A12 28mm F2.5 module, pressing down the Macro button causes the focus ring movement to become faster.

Website: Ricoh GXR Firmware

Sigma is developing new lenses for Micro Four Thirds and E-mount camera system. A mockup of a 30mm f/2.8 E-mount lens is being displayed at Sigma’s booth during the CP+ show in Japan. More detailed information including specifications, product names, pricing and launch schedules are yet to be announced.

Via DCWatch

Sony is disclosing the basic specifications of its “E-mount” for interchangeable single lens cameras for free. Starting April 1st, 2011, 3rd party manufacturers will be able to develop lenses and mount adaptors for the E-mount, currently used in Sony’s NEX range. Carl Zeiss, Cosina, Sigma and Tamron have already expressed their interest.

Carl Zeiss AG has joined the Micro Four Thirds System standard. In an announcement by Olympus, Zeiss HD Video lenses will be available to users of Micro Four Thirds cameras, contributing to a vastly expanded product line. No other details about Carl Zeiss’ Micro Four Thirds lenses have yet been released.

Schneider-Kreuznach, best known for its photographic lenses, has joined the Micro Four Thirds System Standard Group. “This standard has great potential. It simplifies and improves the options for compact digital cameras and offers an excellent opportunity for the industry as a whole, as well as for us as a lens manufacturer. We are working intensively on a corresponding series of lenses,” commented Dr. Josef Staub, CEO of the Schneider Group. There’s no further details yet on what the first Schneider-Kreuznach branded Micro Four Thirds lenses will be, or when they will be released.

Kenko are showcasing an interchangeable lens compact camera system based around the C-mount standard. Originally designed for movie camera lenses, the C-mount measures 1 inch in diameter. Mockups of no less than 14 lenses and a camera body are currently on display at the Tokyo International Gift Show in Japan (Kenko’s stand pictured above). The Kenko C-Mount Camera System will be priced at around 30,000 Yen with release in Japan planned for Summer 2011.

Website: Kenko-Tokina

The Panasonic GF2 is now available at retail. Successor to the popular GF1, the new 12 megapixel Panasonic GF2 is 19% smaller in size and 7% less in weight than than its predecessor. The DMC-GF2 has a touch control 460,000-dot LCD screen and a new Graphic User Interface (GUI) and full HD movies at 1920 x 1080 at 60i (NTSC) / 50i (PAL) in AVCHD format. The Panasonic Lumix GF2 retails at $499 body only, $599 with a 14-42mm lens, or $699.95 including a 14mm “pancake” lens.

Review: Read our review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

The Olympus E-PL2 is a new interchangeable lens compact system camera. The EPL2 features a larger 3 inch display, Live Guide access in HD Movie mode, handy Live Wheel feature selector and a faster, lighter, virtually silent M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42mm 1:3-5-5.6 II lens. The E-PL2 is available from January 2011 for around £500 / €599.

Pre-order the Panasonic DMC-GF2 camera and get a free photography gift pack worth £150. Included in the gift pack is Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 & Adobe Premier Elements 9 software and a £35 gift voucher with Going Digital, who offer a range of one-day photography workshops for beginners to more experienced photographers.

Read our Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Review

The Samsung NX11 is the latest NX system camera. The NX11 is an upgraded model based on the NX10, sporting a new handgrip and compatibility with the new i-Function lenses. The NX11 will come complete with an 18-55mm i-Function lens, as well as two new i-Function lenses, a 20mm pancake and a 20-50mm zoom silver colour lens. The Samsung NX11 will be available in February for $649 with the 18-55mm lens.

Panasonic has released a firmware update for the Panasonic G2 compact system camera. Version 1.1 adds support for 3D image capture and playback (via a compatible TV set), and improves the operation of the AE lock function. You can download the firmware update from the website below.

Olympus Japan has announced the Olympus E-PL1s compact system camera and the M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II silent-focus lens. The Olympus E-PL1s, which is a Japan-only model, is mostly a cosmetic update of the E-PL1, having the silver band on top and sides changed to the body colour, which can be red, white or black (although it does add one functional upgrade - a new top sensitivity setting of ISO 6400/39° - as well). The new kit lens is more interesting, inasmuch as it provides high-speed and near-silent focusing for both stills and video, and weighs in at only 112 grams, a 25% reduction versus the older version. Unlike the E-PL1s, the new kit lens will apparently be available worldwide. A new battery called BLS-5 and a new charger named BCS-5 have also been announced - both of these have been developed to conform to new regulations, Olympus says.

Samsung has announced the release of the music video for indie band OK Go’s latest song, “Last Leaf”, filmed using the Samsung NX100 compact system camera. The “Last Leaf” video was made using thousands of photographs taken with the Samsung NX100, woven together to create a stop motion animation clip. The images were combined with hand-drawn animations created by the band, along with award-winning animator Geoff McFettridge. “Samsung’s been great because we had a creative idea and they had the tools to help us make it,” said Damian Kulash, lead singer of OK Go.

Website: Last Leaf

Want to see exactly how the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 compact system camera compares to the Panasonic GF1, Panasonic LX5, and Samsung NX100?

Then check out our hands-on photo gallery of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 compact system camera alongside its predecessor, compact camera sibling and one of its main rivals.

Want to see exactly what the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 compact system camera looks like?

Then check out our hands-on photo gallery of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2, the World’s smallest compact system camera.