Leica today launched the Leica M (Typ 262) digital rangefinder camera. Featuring a near-silent shutter, a quiet shutter-cocking motor, a 24-megapixel CMOS sensor and a Maestro image processor; the Leica M (Typ 262) is a dedicated stills-only camera offering no video recording capabilities. New to the Leica M (Typ 262) is the use of a streamlined two-page menu system, which promises to simplify the way you use the camera. Priced at £4,050/$5,195; the Leica M (Typ 262) is the least expensive full-frame M-mount digital Leica to date, and at 600 grams without a battery, it's also the lightest digital M camera in production. The newest Leica is scheduled to be available later this month.

The Sony A68 A-mount camera features Sony’s unique 4D FOCUS system that delivers extraordinary AF performance under any shooting conditions, even in lighting as low as EV-2. The A68's AF system has 79 autofocus detection points including 15 cross points and a dedicated F2.8 AF sensor point for dimly-lit scenes. Other key features include a 24MP APS-C Exmor CMOS image sensor, ISO 100-25600, BIONZ X image processor, Full HD movies in the XAVC Sv format, OLED Tru-Finder with 100% frame coverage, a 2.7-type LCD monitor that  tilts up to 135 degrees upwards or 55 degrees downwards, and in-body image stabilisation. The price and availability of the new Sony A68 are still to be announced.

Phase One today released the first major XF Camera System update. The update adds a Seismographic Vibration Delay function that ensures camera stillness at the moment of capture, introduces a BullsEye Level tool on the XF OneTouch UI to enable easy camera alignment, and adds a Hyperfocal Point Calibration feature, which allows photographers to use Capture One PRO to calibrate and store their perfect hyperfocal point. Additionally, Focus confirmation on the XF OneTouch UI now gives full focus control in the Waist Level Finder workflow, and Focus Step enables focus control directly from Live View in Capture One PRO for ultimate focus accuracy.

The DxO ONE camera is now available in ten European countries. Billed as an "incredibly compact, yet surprisingly sophisticated" camera that connects directly to your iPhone and iPad to let you instantly share high-resolution images; the DxO ONE boasts a fast 32mm (eq.) f/1.8 prime lens and a relatively big, 1"-type sensor with a resolution of 20.2 megapixels. The camera is now available at a price of £449 (VAT included) in the United Kingdom, and at the price of €599 in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands and in Switzerland.

Ricoh today announced the Ricoh Theta S, the newest model in their Theta series of spherical cameras. Unveiled today in Berlin at IFA, the camera features a resolution of nearly 14 megapixels, fully spherical photos and videos captured in one shot, a live preview function and even greater compatibility with social media platforms. It also comes with an enlarged image sensor and fast f/2 lenses. Spherical images can be uploaded to theta360.com, shared via Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr, and posted to Google Maps, Google+ and YouTube's360°Channel. Coinciding with the launch of the camera, Google Maps today introduced a new Google Street View app that offers the ability to shoot photo spheres and to connect to spherical cameras. The recommended retail price of the Ricoh Theta S is £299.99.

DxO have just announced the availability of the DxO ONE camera in 10 European countries. Launching in October 2015, the DxO ONE is an incredibly compact, yet surprisingly sophisticated camera that connects directly to your iPhone and iPad to let you instantly share high-resolution images with your family, friends and followers. Its fast f/1.8 prime lens (32mm equivalent) is paired to a relatively big, 1"-type sensor with a resolution of 20.2 megapixels.As a fully connected camera, the DxO ONE enables users to receive continuous app and firmware enhancements via automatic App Store updates. In just the past two months, the team at DxO added manual focus, EV bias in auto, paired program mode, max ISO / max Speed, and more. Before the year is out, DxO ONE users can expect to receive a host of new features, such as high-speed raw burst, horizon level, advanced viewfinder and detailed EXIF displays. The camera will be available at a price of £449 (VAT included) in the United Kingdom, and at the price of €599 in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands and in Switzerland.

Want to see exactly what the new Leica S (Typ 007) medium format camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of photos of the Leica S (Typ 007) medium format camera.

The Leica S (Typ 007) medium format camera combines outstanding image quality with maximum speed and flawless handling. The new Leica S brings together maximum burst rate, exceptional sensor sensitivity and an extensive range of capture modes for photos and – for the first time – video footage. With a burst frequency of up to 3.5 frames per second, full-HD video in full-frame medium format sensor size, 4K video recording in Super 35 format, fast Live View mode and exceptional image quality at all ISO settings, the Leica S (Typ 007) reinforces its status as the benchmark in the medium format category.

The Leica S (Typ 007) is available in the UK from selected Leica stockists, at a suggested retail price of £12,900 including VAT, and in the US it's priced at $16,900.

A group of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have proposed a camera that can take a perfect picture, even in extremely contrasty lighting conditions. Called a “modulo camera,” this device designed to never overexpose any part of a photograph, enabling single-capture HDR imaging. Where "traditional" HDR-capable cameras use multiple normal images to create one final high-dynamic-range photograph, the modulo camera only requires one shot to create an HDR image. The new solution gets around the limited well capacity of conventional sensors by resetting the sensor capacitors whenever the "well" gets full, and uses an inverse modulo algorithm to calculate how much light the reset sensors took in. This algorithm recovers a much larger dynamic range. For example, if a certain camera sensor can record eight bits of information, then when those eight bits are filled, the capacitor will be reset to zero. The number of resets is recovered by the algorithm, which then calculates the relative brightness of each area of the photo. Interested readers are encouraged to visit the project's website and read the technical paper published by the researchers.

Lytro has opened its imaging platform to developers, photographers and producers, enabling them to explore light field photography and integrate the underlying 3D data into new applications. Lytro Power Tools (LPT) Beta was developed to give programmers, researchers and artists complete control at every step – from capture on the camera to post-processing light field data. Initially announced as an Alpha program only available in the United States, LPT Beta is now available to anyone who’s interested. Alpha participants have created and shared tools to generate time-lapse video as well as panoramic video that can be viewed with virtual reality headsets like Google Cardboard and Samsung Gear VR. To learn more and download Lytro Power Tools Beta, visit the website below.

Phase One Industrial has introduced the iXU-R camera series for aerial applications. Available in 80 MP, 60MP and 60MP achromatic versions, these cameras feature interchangeable 40 mm, 50 mm and 70 mm Phase One Rodenstock lenses equipped with central leaf shutters that can be quickly changed in the field. The Phase One iXU-R systems have been designed to address the aerial data acquisition market's needs for a small, lightweight camera with the high resolution of a medium format system, plus high-performance optics, flexibility to fit into small places and Phase One's fastest 80 MP platform. Cameras are easily integrated into new or existing setups with USB 3.0 connectivity for control and storage via the Phase One iX Capture application. For more details, visit the website below.

Panono has announced its plan to release the first edition of its 108-megapixel Panono Camera, the first consumer camera to exceed 100 megapixels and deliver high-resolution, 360° X 360° full-spherical panoramic images. The Panono Explorer Edition is a small, grapefruit-sized, ball-shaped camera with 36 individual camera modules that fire simultaneously to capture everything in every direction. The panoramic images can be previewed instantly in the free Panono mobile app before being sent to the Panono Cloud for finishing and delivery back to the app, the photographer‘s account on the Panono website, or can be shared on social media sites. The Panono Explorer Edition will start shipping in September. It is already available to preorder from $1,499.

Sony has filed a patent for a new dual-layer image sensor. Spotted by Egami, the patent describes a sensor architecture where the top layer is made up of regular pixels with a standard RGB colour filter array, and the second consists of monochromatic pixels suitable for phase-detect auto focus (PDAF) operation. If implemented in a camera or smartphone, this sensor could enable users to pick their focus point with pixel-level accuracy (which is probably more than what any of us bargained for, but it could also improve focusing accuracy when using continuous, subject tracking auto-focus). According to Egami, this is but one of several examples given by Sony, as the patent itself covers a broader range of multi-layer sensors.

Via SαR

Panasonic is developing a new technological function called ‘Post Focus’ which enables photographers to select alternative parts of the image they want to be in-focus with easy one touch operation. The function has been developed by further innovating via Panasonic’s existing 4K Photo technology and not only prevents out-of-focus misshots but also offers greater creative freedom in all areas of photography.

Lytro have released their newest updates for the ILLUM light-field camera. Lytro ILLUM 2.0 includes a new design and user interface with full screen views and improved focus aids, full living picture playback interaction in-camera, as well as an improved auto focus that is up to three times faster. Lytro Desktop 4.3 provides faster processing and more outputs including 3D lenticular prints and stereoscopic side-by-side 3D animations, which can be used with virtual reality headsets like Google Cardboard and Samsung Gear VR.

The Olymous Air A01, a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled camera unit designed for use with smartphones, will become available in the US in July. Originally announced in February by Olympus Japan, the Olympus Air A01 features a Four Thirds sized 16-megapixel MOS sensor, a Micro Four Thirds lens mount, an electronic shutter with a top speed of 1/16,000s, an 81-point AF system, a shutter release and a tripod socket. Weighing-in at 147 grams, the Olympus Air A01 can be controlled via a smartphone app. In the United States, the Air A01 will be available for $299.99 (sans lens), and $499.99 in a kit with the 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ zoom. Canadian customers will be able to purchase it in August for CDN$399.99 (body only) and CDN$599,99 (kit).

Leica says the development phase of a new generation of imagers, which should fix the corrosion-related issue pertaining to the cover glass of the sensors of the Leica M9 / M9-P / M Monochrom and M-E, has now nearly been completed. The issue, which causes white speckles to appear in photos taken with some of these cameras, was acknowledged by Leica on 10 December 2014. Since then, the company has been working with its sensor supplier on a long-term technical solution. In the next phase, independent users will be testing the new-generation imagers "in practical situations." After completion and evaluation of this testing phase, Leica will begin replacing the corroded sensors as a "goodwill arrangement." Do note that the free sensor replacement service is only offered for cameras actually affected by the corrosion issue.

Eyefi announced today that its Mobi Pro photography solution now integrates both GoPro and Olympus Wi-Fi cameras. With Eyefi, photos from these cameras are instantly transferred and automatically organised alongside the ones from their smartphones. “No one uses just one device for taking pictures anymore,” said Matt DiMaria, Eyefi CEO. “We understand that photographers want to choose any camera... and still have instant access to all their photos all together in a single collection without having to go home, upload them into a computer and manually merge each one. We’re giving photographers the flexibility and convenience to share images from all their cameras and the insight to discover more about their photos.” Eyefi apps and cloud service automatically organise these images and make it easier than ever to find and discover more about them. Eyefi’s Wi-Fi camera solution is available to all Eyefi Cloud members as part of their £3.49/$4.99/monthly subscription service. Non-Eyefi Cloud customers can purchase it through the Eyefi Mobi app on their phone or tablet for £3.49/$4.99. This feature is currently available for Android devices and is planned for iOS devices later this year. Eyefi’s Wi-Fi camera connectivity is available for use with GoPro Hero+ LCD, Hero 3, GoPro Hero 4 and Olympus Stylus 1, Olympus PEN E-P5, Olympus Stylus TG- 860, and Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II cameras.

The winners of the Camera Grand Prix 2015, hosted by the Camera Journal Press Club of Japan (CJPC), received their awards in Tokyo on Monday, 1 June 2015. The Camera Grand Prix, held since 1984, is a prestigious award whose winners are selected by a judging committee made up of the members of the CJPC, top editorial staff of the member publications, academic experts, technical writers, professional photographers and TIPA (Technical Image Press Association). The winning products for the Camera GP 2015 include theCanon EOS 7D Mark II ("Camera of the Year" and "Readers' Award"), theCanon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lens ("Lens of the Year"), the Lytro Illum, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II and the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-CM1 ("Editors' Award").

JK Imaging have announced a cashback offer on the Kodak Pixpro SP360 Extreme Kit. Those who buy the camera bundle before 15th July can claim £30/€40 back by downloading and returning this cashback form. Note that claims must be submitted before 9th September. This promotion is open to residents in the UK and Ireland aged 18 or over only.