Hasselblad are set to launch their new A5D aerial camera range with no internal moving parts. This solution is designed to prevent any unintentional movement that may occur due to aircraft vibration. The result is unrivalled airborne stability; total reliability; a lighter body and ultimate image quality, the company claims. The series takes off with three sensor options: the CCD-based A5D-40 and A5D-60 (40 and 60 megapixels, respectively) and the CMOS-based, 50-megapixel A5D-50c. The A5D Aerial includes a feature that allows up to 8 cameras to be synchronised within 20 μs. A simple bus-type cable connection is required between all cameras in the set-up. This feature completely eliminates any problems in post production caused by unsynchronised exposures.

NCTech have launched iris360, their new consumer 360° camera system designed to speed the capture and upload of 360 degree images to Google Maps and Street View. Remote-controlled from a smartphone or tablet, iris360 quickly captures high-resolution 360-degree images courtesy of its four sensors. With zero setup time, iris360 does not require photographic experience to operate and, with one touch, captures and delivers an 8K resolution, HDR panoramic image in less than two minutes. iris360 is small and lightweight, making it easy to transport and deploy, and is designed for use in both indoor and outdoor environments. iris360 is currently available for pre-order for $1,999. The product is expected to start shipping in August 2015.

Want to see exactly what the new Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) camera.

The Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) is a new black and white rangefinder camera. The Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) features a newly developed 24 megapixel full-frame black-and-white CMOS sensor, ISO range of 320-2500, high-performance Leica Maestro image processor, 2Gb buffer, Live View function with focus peaking, 1080p HD video recording, 3-inch 921K-dot LCD with a Sapphire Crystal screen, and compatibility with almost all lenses of the Leica R series.

The Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) will be available in early May for £5750 / €7200.

Canon Europe today announced that it is acquiring London-based digital start-up Lifecake, the company behind the Lifecake photo-sharing app for families, which allows parents to store, organise, share and relive key moments of their children’s lives.  With the app, parents can create photo and video timelines that the whole family can experience on smartphones, tablets, computers and in printed photobooks. Lifecake is currently available in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian.

With sales of consumer orientated camera drones on the up, and the technology getting ever more affordable, Chinese manufacturer DJI has announced what it is terming the possible “future of aerial imaging and video”. It has launched not one but two updates to its Phantom series. These are the Phantom 3 ‘Professional’ – a 4K shooting unmanned aerial vehicle with gold detailing and a suggested retail price of £1,159 – plus a second model in the Phantom 3 Advanced. The latter records 1080P video, costs a more affordable £899 SRP, and is outwardly distinguishable via its silver detailing. Gavin Stoker attended the London launch and was able to get hands-on with the devices.

DJI have announced the Phantom 3 Professional and Phantom 3 Advanced drones. Using DJI’s innovative Visual Positioning System), these Phantom 3 platforms can hold their positioning indoors without GPS and can easily take off and land with the push of a button. Controllers for the Phantom 3 come paired with DJI’s Lightbridge technology, which allows pilots to see what the Phantom 3 camera is seeing in HD (720p) at a distance up to 1 mile. The Phantom 3 Professional (£1,159 / $1,259) is capable of shooting 4K video at up to 30fps, while the Phantom 3 Advanced (£899 / $999) records at resolutions up to 1080p at 60fps. These cameras are stabilised using 3-axis gimbals to keep the video smooth regardless of flight or wind conditions. Both models shoot 12 megapixel photos using a 94⁰ UWA lens and a 1/2.3"-type sensor. ISO, shutter speed and exposure compensation, can be set using both the DJI Pilot app and the physical controls on the remote controllers.

Phase One Industrial have announced the Phase One iXU 180, which is billed as the world’s smallest 80 MP medium format aerial camera. Weighing in at less than 950 grams, the iXU 180 can be used as a standalone photogrammetric camera, or as part of an array of multiple cameras. The Phase One iXU 180 is compatible with leaf shutter lenses from Schneider Kreuznach (28 mm, 55 mm, 80 mm, 110 mm, 150 mm and 240 mm). The camera is easily integrated into new or existing setups with its USB 3.0 connectivity for storage and control, and direct communication to GPS/IMU systems. The camera will start shipping mid-April.

Leica has announced the new Leica M-P ‘Safari’ special edition set. Containing a Leica M-P digital rangefinder camera in olive green safari-look and a Leica Summicron-M 35 mm f/2 ASPH. lens in silver chrome finish, the kit is limited to just 1,500 sets for the worldwide market. The top and base plates of the Leica M-P are finished in rugged and resilient olive green enamel that offers comfortable grip and lends the camera its distinctive look. The finishing touch to the safari-look of this special version of the Leica M-P is provided by its colour-matched, olive green leather trim. Silver chrome controls set a contrasting counterpoint in the colour scheme of the camera andreflect the finish of the Leica Summicron-M 35 mm f/2 ASPH. and its classic round metal lens hood. As an homage to previous editions in olive green finish, the camera of the Leica M-P ‘Safari’ sets bears the classic Leica script and the engravings ‘Leica Camera AG’ and ‘Wetzlar Germany’ on its top plate. The recommended retail price of the Leica M-P ‘Safari’ special edition set is £7,850.

A start-up called Konost is planning to launch a new kind of interchangeable-lens digital rangefinder camera with a 20-megapixel 35mm full-frame image sensor. "The Konost camera is unique in that instead of using rotating mirrors and prisms in the rangefinder mechanism, it uses a secondary image sensor and image processing algorithms to display the rangefinder patch in the viewfinder," the company says. "This allows the camera to be all-digital, decreasing manufacturing costs, and does not require high maintenance or re-callibration." In addition to capturing 20.0-megapixel stills, the Konost FF can also record videos at 30fps at full resolution. The company is also developing the Konost AP, a 12-megapixel interchangeable-lens rangefinder camera with an APS-C sized CMOS sensor, and the Konost Junior, a 10.8-megapixel, JPEG-only compact with a 1" imager and a 35mm (eq) f/2 lens. The Konost FF and the Konost AP are expected to hit the shelves in 2016, while the Konost Junior could arrive before the end of this year.

Website: Konost

According to a new report by Oregon-based Allied Market Research, the global 3D Camera market is expected to reach $7,661.8 million by 2020, registering a compound annual growth rate of 39.4%. With the simplest 3D camera technology - stereo visioning; about 80% of smartphones in production could be upgraded with a 3D camera lens by the year 2018. The application of 3D cameras in smartphones should garner a revenue of$2.02 billion by 2020. To view the report, visit the website below.

The Canon Connect Station CS100 is a unique photo-storage device that allows you to quickly and easily save, view and share your photos and movies, all from one single accessible location.

Phase One has started shipping the first A-series medium format camera systems. "Blending the best of Phase One and ALPA technology through highly-integrated precision components, these cameras are designed to capture outstanding images with greater ease, convenience, and fun," the company said in a statement. The three Phase One A-series models include the A250, A260 and A280. They are based on the ALPA 12TC camera body, plus a Phase One medium format IQ2 A-series digital back -- the 50 megapixel CMOS-based IQ250; the long-exposure-capable 60 megapixel IQ260; or the highest-resolution 80 megapixel IQ280. Each model comes with the 4.0/35mm Rodenstock Alpar lens. There are two optional lenses available, including the ultra-wide 23mm, and the all-round 70mm, ALPA HR Alpagon. The three A-series Rodenstock Alpagon/Alpar lens profiles are factory calibrated, so photographers simply select the lens used and corrections are then automatically processed in camera and when importing to Capture One Pro 8.1. Photographs taken with the new A-series cameras can be wirelessly transmitted to an iPad or iPhone to check for critical focus. The Phase One A250 is priced at €36.000 / $47,000. The A260 is €38.000 / $48,000, and the A280 is €43.000 / $55,000. These prices include a 5-year warranty. Estimated pricing for the optional Alpa lenses is: ALPA HR Alpagon 5.6/23 mm €7.110 / $9,070,00; ALPA HR Alpagon 5.6/70 mm €3.510 / $4,520.

Sony has posted a firmware update for the Sony A77 II digital SLT camera. Version 2.00 brings improved AF speed and enables shooting movies in 50p/25p (PAL mode) and 60p/30p/24p (NTSC mode) in XAVC S format. You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: Sony A77 II Firmware Update 2.00 for Mac
Website: Sony A77 II Firmware Update 2.00 for Windows

Autographer has created a three-day timelapse of FinDAC at work on one of his signature pieces of urban art in London. It is the latest entry in Autographer’s Behind the Scenes series — an ongoing project designed to showcase never-before-seen views on some of the best alternative artists’ work. The video was made using four Autographer devices, two of which were mounted overlooking the work and two worn by FinDAC himself, offering a unique perspective of the process. “Organised through a mutual friend and coinciding with the one year anniversary of their business opening my latest project was painting the DayTrue external wall in Maida Vale," FinDAC says. "We wanted to capture the whole thing as a time-lapse, so it was great that Autographer helped out with this." Click through / scroll down see the time-lapse video.

Phase One has launched a complimentary five-year warranty programme and also a five-year uptime guarantee programme for selected camera systems. Customers who purchase new Phase One IQ2 camera systems will receive a free five-year warranty on all key camera system components, including: camera body, lenses and digital backs. The five-year uptime guarantee programme consists of free loaner units being made available should the camera, lense(s) or digital back(s) need to be repaired under terms of this warranty.  "We're excited to offer these great new five-year warranty and uptime guarantee programs on all new IQ2 camera system purchases,” said Franck Roussel Rasmussen, Director Product Management, Phase One. "It's a fitting match when the world's most demanding photographers invest in the world’s best camera systems.”

Phase One Industrial today announced the Phase One iXA-R camera platform and the iX Controller (pictured). The new 80 MP, 60 MP and Achromatic iXA-R cameras share many of the same features as the iXA aerial cameras, including focal plane and central leaf shutters, optional Forward Motion Compensation, scalability to form multi-camera arrays, as well as easy integration with popular flight management systems and GPS/IMU receivers. Phase One iXA-R cameras expand the iXA lens range by adding three new dedicated lenses with focal lengths of 40 mm, 50 mm and 70 mm. The Phase One iXA 180-R (including one of three lenses) has a list price of $67000 / €50000. The enhanced lenses are designed and built by Rodenstock. Each lens/shutter combination is adapted for aerial photography and offers low distortion, high MTF and excellent contrast. The iX Controller ($7000 / €5300), a fanless PC with a small footprint, uses a 4th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and is easily integrated into any aircraft. The cameras and iX Controller will start shipping 1 November 2014.

Nikon UK has released a new film by John Wright titled ‘Robo – Trumble’, featuring ex Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt and ‘Studio Bot’, a bespoke robotic camera setup that demonstrates the capabilities of Nikon / MRMC’s remote camera system solution. John Wright, Nikon UK Ambassador, shot the entire film on a Nikon D810 and MRMC robotic head in order to capture multiple angles as Kimberly and Studio Bot perform together.  The film highlights the precision and accuracy of the system that affords photographers, videographers and broadcasters complete creative control and the opportunity to shoot from "almost impossible" locations. Click through for the Robo –  Trumble film and a behind-the-scenes video.

Want to see exactly what the new Hasselblad H5D-50c Wi-Fi medium-format camera / digital back looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the  Hasselblad H5D-50c Wi-Fi prototype showcased at Photokina 2014. The H5D-50c with Wi-Fi makes it possible for users to fully control the camera and browse/view images on iPhone/iPad on location via Phocus Mobile software, without the need for a computer. It also features a 'Live View' function, allowing photographers to see and zoom in on a live image on the rear LCD even when the camera is untethered.