Pentax has announced an instant rebate programme on the Pentax Optio W80 and Optio P80 digital compact cameras. U.S. customers who purchase a W80 can save $30 instantly through 21 November. Those who buy a P80 receive $20 instantly through 2 January. The Pentax Optio W80 is Pentax’s most water-, shock-, dust- and cold-proof digital camera ever, while the Pentax Optio P80 features HD video capture in a slim, lightweight body with a 27.5-110mm equivalent 4x zoom lens. The rebates are valid on U.S. purchases only.

Website: Pentax Instant Rebate Announcement on Facebook

The Ricoh GXR is a completely new kind of digital camera - the World’s first “interchangeable unit camera system”. The GXR’s lens, image sensor, and image processing engine are all integrated into an individual camera unit, so the camera body itself does not contain an image sensor, unlike conventional DSLRs. The camera units are then changed by using a slide-in mount system to attach them to the GXR body. Since the image sensor is not exposed when lenses are changed, it’s virtually impossible for dirt and dust to get inside. The Ricoh GXR is also the World’s smallest and lightest digital camera with interchangeable lenses, even smaller than the Micro Four Thirds cameras from Panasonic and Olympus.

Two camera units are being launched with the GXR. The A12 50mm F2.5 MACRO camera unit uses a 12.3 megapixel APS-C size CMOS sensor, while the S10 24-72 mm F2.5-4.4 VC camera unit features a 10 megapixel 1/1.7-inch CCD sensor. The innovative Ricoh GXR will be available in December priced at £419 / €459 / $550 for the body, £600 / €670 / $550 for the 50mm camera unit, £330 / €370 / $440 for the 24-72mm camera unit, £239 / €269 for the external flashgun and £219 / €249 for the electronic viewfinder. There are no kits available on launch, with more camera units promised for 2010.

We were at the first ever press launch of the GXR last week in London, and can exclusively bring you some full-sized Ricoh GXR photos (see story above), plus hands-on product shots in this article’s gallery.

Interested in how the new Ricoh GXR compares to one of is main competitors, the Panasonic GF1? Well, wonder no more - we have a gallery of photos comparing the GXR to the GF1, and also to Ricoh’s CX2 compact camera. Carry on reading to find out just how small the Ricoh GXR actually is in the flesh…

Learn all about the intriguing Ricoh GXR digital camera. Ricoh have kindly allowed us to share an official GXR product slideshow with you, with lots of in-depth details on the approach, design and vision for their new flagship camera system. Carry on reading to find out more about the Ricoh GXR…

Olympus has issued a firmware update for its FE-3010 digital compact camera. Version 1.1 resolves the issue that some cameras stopped operating while recording movies. To update your FE-3010’s firmware, connect the camera to a computer with either Olympus Master or Olympus studio installed, and follow the instructions found on the website below.

Website: Firmware Update Instructions

A new firmware update is released for Panasonic’s premium manual compact camera DMC-LX3. Version 2.1, which is the corrected version of the firmware previously released as version 2.0, supports several new functions and improves various aspects of performance. The adoption of a new algorithm makes it possible to speed up the AF by reducing focus times approximately 20% to 0.5 second at the wide end. The 1:1 aspect ratio (square format) is added as a shooting option in addition to the conventional 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. . Other additions include white balance bracketing, a new scene mode for high-contrast scenes, expanded exposure compensation and bracketing ranges, movable compositional guidelines and more.

Website: Panasonic Firmware Update

Jessops has announced the launch of the new and exclusive to Jessops Fujifilm Finepix F72EXR camera. The Fujifilm Finepix F72EXR is a 10 megapixel, 10x optical zoom camera featuring Fuji’s EXR technology, which has been previously featured in the F200EXR, and uses the sensor in three different ways to optimise resolution, dynamic range or low-light performance. The F72EXR appears to have much the same feature set as the F70EXR we recently reviewed, though it comes with a slightly different finish.

The Yashica EZ F521 is a new, retro-styled digital camera featuring a 43mm equivalent prime lens. The pared-down Yashica EZ F521 has a 1/2.5” type 5-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 2.4” TFT LCD screen, a 43mm equivalent f/3 lens with two focus settings, 1.5m to infinity and a “macro” setting for subjects between 20-40cm from the sensor plane. The electronic shutter offers shutter speeds ranging from 1/2 second to 1/500 second, while the ISO range is unknown and not user controllable. The camera runs on 3 AAA type batteries and records images (as well as VGA-resolution videos) on SD and SDHC cards. The price is 7980 yen in Japan.

Via Engadget | 1001noisycameras

Sigma has just issued a firmware update for the Sigma DP2 large-sensor digital compact camera. Version 1.03 addresses the issue of intermittent camera freeze-ups, and improves the accuracy of auto white balance (AWB). The firmware update can be downloaded from the website below.

Website: Sigma DP2 Firmware Update Page

Minox has just announced the ultra-compact Minox DC 1044, a ten-megapixel digital camera featuring a 35-105mm equivalent Minoctar zoom lens and a large, 3-inch rear screen. Other features include electronic image stabilisation, face recognition and smile detection. Photos are stored on SD cards or in the 32MB internal memory. The Minox DC1044 draws power from a removable Li-ion battery and comes bundled with an ever-ready case. The camera will become available this month at a recommended retail price of €119.

The new Minox DC1211 is a twelve-megapixel digital compact camera featuring a metal body, 5x optical zoom and optical image stabilisation. Measuring 98.7x59.7x23.4mm and weighing in at just 128g, the Minox DC 1211 is compact and lightweight, and sports a multicoated, 34-170mm equivalent Minoctar lens. The camera has the usual feature set consisiting of face recognition, smile detection and the ability to shoot standard-definition VGA video clips. Framing and image review is done by way of a generous 3-inch TFT LCD screen. The maximum ISO sensitivity setting is limited to a sensible ISO 800. The Minox DC 1211 draws power from a Li-ion battery, and records photos and videos on SD cards, with 32MB of internal memory provided to fall back on, should your card fill up. The camera is becoming available from specialist dealers this month, at a suggested retail price of €199.

Ricoh has just released a firmware update for the Ricoh CX2 digital compact camera. Version 1.13 fixes a couple of bugs related to the step zoom and manual focusing, Specifically, there were a few occasions when the camera would power off during zoom lever operation; and when using the englarger function in manual focus mode, the enlarged part sometimes blacked out - these are the issues fixed by the new firmware release.

Website: Ricoh CX2 Firmware 1.13

Crayola has announced an application called “Lights, Camera, Color” that lets kids turn their digital photos into personalised colouring pages, and partnered with Olympus to introduce the exclusive FE-46 Digital Camera Colouring Set. The set will include an FE-46 digital camera and case, a 64-ct. box of Crayola crayons, a colourable craft storage box and a unique code for turning your images into personalised colouring pages. The Olympus FE-46 itself is a compact digital camera that combines a 5x optical zoom (36-180mm) with a 12 megapixel CCD. The FE-46 Digital Camera Colouring Set will retail for $99.99.

Website: “Lights, Camera, Color”

The Sigma DP1s is an improved version of the DP1 large-sensor compact camera, which was introduced to market in March 2008. The Sigma DP1s uses the same APS-C sized Foveon sensor as its predecessor, which can output 4.7-megapixel (2652x1768-pixel) digital phototgraphs without Bayer interpolation. The lens, a 28mm equivalent f/4 prime, is also unchanged. Enhancements upon the DP1 include a possibility to allocate the QS (Quick Set) function, which has been adopted by the DP2 and SD14 DSLR, to the digital zoom buttons of the DP1s, and improved performance when shooting backlit subjects.

The GE G3WP is a new, twelve-megapixel waterproof digital camera from General Imaging. Announced back in March along with eight other models, the G3WP has finally arrived in the United Kingdom, ready to hit the shelves in the middle of October. Waterproof to a depth of three metres, the G3WP comes with underwater modes for still and video capture, and features Pan Capture Panorama, ; Auto Scene Detection; Blink, Smile and Face Detection; Image Stabilisation as well as in-camera Red-Eye Removal. The G3WP’s intelligent 2.7-inch LCD automatically adjusts its brightness depending on ambient light levels. The suggested retail price is £140 in the UK and $199 in the US.

Via ephotozine

Samsung Digital Imaging is launching a £2m multi-discipline advertising campaign this week, featuring a heavyweight TV campaign to support Samsung’s new 2View products. The campaign, comprising TV, print and online activity, will focus on the recently launched ST500 and ST550 cameras, which feature the world’s first front and back LCD screens. The dual LCD screens offer photography enthusiasts a unique opportunity to perfect their self-portraits and this feature will be central to the advertising campaign.

Ricoh has posted a firmware update for the Ricoh GR Digital III digital camera. Version 1.21 fixes a number of playback- and MF-related bugs, plus an issue with the GW-2 wide conversion lens. Click through / read on for the details.

Website: Ricoh GRD III Firmware 1.21

Samsung has officially announced the Samsung SCH-W880, also called the Samsung AMOLED 12M - a 12-megapixel digital camera with 3x optical zoom and a phone inside. Alternatively, you could call it a 12-megapixel camera phone with optical zoom, but the SCH-W880 has real camera controls such as a mode dial and a zoom rocker encircling a shutter release button. The rear panel features a 3.3” AMOLED display that allegedly boasts a resolution of 800x480 pixels. Touch-sensitive autofocus, image stabilisation and 720p video capture round off the features list. The SCH-W880 has a generous 4GB of internal memory, expandable by up to 32GB via Micro SD cards. According to Engadget, the Samsung SCH-W880 is going to hit the [Korean] market in October, but there is no word on international availability or pricing.

Via Engadget

General Imaging has announced two new digital cameras, the GE J1050 and the J1250 (pictured). Shared features include Pan-Capture Panorama; Auto Scene Detection; Blink, Smile and Face Detection; Image Stabilisation and in-camera Red-Eye Removal. Out of these, Pan-Capture Panorama is the most interesting, which allows the creation of seamless panoramic photographs without a need for stitching. Also, both cameras have a 35-175mm equivalent zoom lens and a 2.7”; 230,400-dot TFT LCD. They practically only differ in their pixel count and price: the GE J1050 is a ten-megapixel model costing $129, whereas the GE J1250 is a twelve-megapixel camera that sells for $149.

Panasonic has posted a major function-enhancing firmware update to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 digital compact camera. Version 2.0 supports several new functions and improves various performance factors, including a claimed 20% increase in AF speed. Furthermore, a 1:1 aspect ratio recording mode is added as a shooting option in addition to the conventional 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. Other additions include white balance bracketing, a new scene mode for high-contrast scenes, expanded exposure compensation and bracketing ranges, movable compositional guidelines and more. Click through / read on for the full range of improvements.

Website: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Firmware Update