The Kuwait Times, whose online edition broke the news that the emirate had put a ban on using digital SLR cameras in public, has retracted the story, saying it “regrets failing to verify the information”. The newspaper had originally stated that the “Ministry of Information, Ministry of Social Affairs and Ministry of Finance recently came to the conclusion that photography should be used for journalism purposes only. This has resulted in the ban of Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras (DSLRs) in public, on the streets and in malls”.

Website: The Kuwait Times

Hasselblad has announced the production of a limited run of 100 Hasselblad H4D-40 Stainless Steel cameras. The H4D-40 is a 40-megapixel medium-format digital SLR camera featuring Hasselblad’s True Focus and Absolute Position Lock technologies. Now, for a limited time, photographers can purchase the H4D-40 Stainless Steel for €13,990 (body only) or €14,990 (with HC 2.8/80mm lens).

The Hasselblad H4D Ferrari Edition, which was announced at Photokina, has now been officially launched and priced. Finished in a new Ferrari colour called rosso fuoco, or fire red, the Hasselblad H4D Ferrari Edition has been created in celebration of two of the most iconic European brands, both of which started their career in the 1950s. Limited to just 499 cameras worldwide, this special edition camera can be yours for €21,499.

Canon has issued a firmware update for its EOS 7D digital SLR. Version 1.2.3 fixes a couple of bugs with the ST-E2 Speedlite transmitter and the MR-14EX & MT24-EX ring flashes. Specifically, the ST-E2 used to revert to the default settings when both the camera and the ST-E2 were set to auto power off, whereas the above specified Macro Ring Lites would not sync with slaves while shooting wirelessly. 7D owners can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: Canon EOS 7D Firmware Update Version 1.2.3

Canon has posted a firmware update for the Canon EOS 550D (Rebel T2i) digital SLR camera. Version 1.0.9 “fixes a phenomenon in which tone jumps become noticeable in some images, depending on the shooting scene, when shooting with the Auto Lighting Optimizer settings.” as the official release puts it. The update can be downloaded from the website below.

Website: Canon EOS 550D Firmware Updates

According to multiple online sources, it is now illegal for amateur photographers to use their DSLR cameras in public in Kuwait. The curious regulation appears not to concern any other type of camera - so while you can’t use, say, an entry-level Digital Rebel or D3100 on the streets of the emirate; it is perfectly legal to shoot an EOS 1V or a Nikon F6, not to mention any Leica, analog or digital. Compacts and cell phones are also exempt from the ban. (Accredited journalists may carry on using their DSLRs too.)

Source: The Kuwait Times via 1001 Noisy Cameras

Update: Kuwaiti Paper Retracts Report on DSLR Ban

Time Magazine has included the Sony Alpha A55 “SLT” camera in its list of the 50 best inventions of 2010. Calling the A55 “the camera that never blinks”, the magazine’s editors cited the combination of a fixed semi-transparent mirror, a robust AF system and a solid 10fps burst mode as the reason for their choice. The Sony A55 is the only camera on the list aside from Looxcie, a small hands-free camcorder worn over the ear.

Website: The 50 Best Inventions of 2010

Pentax has issued a firmware update for the Pentax K-5 dSLR camera. Version 1.01 increases the number of frames that can be captured in raw format when shooting in burst mode, from 8 to 20. The update also improves overall stability and general performance. The firmware update can be downloaded from the website below.

Website: Pentax K-5 Firmware Update 1.01

Pentax Imaging Systems is offering a cashback promotion on two of its new digital SLR cameras. Those buying either a Pentax K-r or a Pentax K-5 between now and 15 January 2011 are entitled to a cashback of £70-£120 (€80-€150) depending on model and configuration. All claims must be made by 31 January 2011. Note that you have to be over 18 and a resident of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland to participate in this promotion.

Canon UK has announced three cashback promotions for consumers. Those who purchase an EOS 7D or 5D Mark II between now and 31 January 2011 can claim up to £100 / €120 savings on selected EF lenses. The second offer concerns those who buy an EOS 500D digital SLR camera or one of three selected PowerShot models before 13 January, while the third is for consumers purchasing either a Pixma Pro9000 Mark II or a Pixma 9500 Mark II between now and 27 January. All of these offers are open to 18+ residents of the UK and Ireland, and valid on purchases made in one of these two countries.

Olympus Japan has announced the release date of the new Olympus E-5 digital single-lens reflex camera. The weather sealed 12-megapixel DSLR, which sports a large optical viewfinder, fully articulated LCD screen, in-body image stabilisation, dust reduction system, 5fps burst shooting and a video mode will go on sale on 29th October. The press release does not quote a price, but the product announcement made last month said the European price would be €1,699. Olympus also announced that the M.Zuiko 40-150mm lens - which is a Micro four Thirds lens and thus not compatible with the Olympus E-5 - will also be released on the same day.

Website: Our First Olympus E-5 Sample Images

Canon has posted a firmware update for its EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR camera. Version 2.0.8 fixes a number of bugs related to movie capture, live view, the auto power-off function, the ST-E2 flash transmitter and the MR-14EX and MT-24EX Macro Ring Lights. You can download the firmware update from the website below.

Website: Canon EOS 5D Mark II Firmware Update

Pentax has posted a few sample images taken with the Pentax K-5 digital SLR camera. There are three photos, all of which were taken at a sensitivity setting of ISO 100/21°. To take these K-5 samples, the photographer used three different lenses, including a 16-50mm zoom, plus a 200mm and a 135mm prime. The aperture settings vary between f/5.6 and f/11. There is another gallery on the site, containing ten photos, but those are all downsampled to Web size, whereas these three are full resolution images.

Website: Official K-5 Samples

Canon has released a firmware update for the Canon EOS 1000D / Rebel XS digital SLR camera. Version 1.0.7 fixes bug that sometimes causes a “Cannot create folder” message to be displayed on the LCD screen, after which shooting is no longer possible with the SD card in the camera. You can download the firmware update from the website below.

Website: Canon EOS 1000D / Rebel XS Firmware Update

Pentax Imaging Company has confirmed the US launch date and MSRP of the Pentax 645D medium-format DSLR camera. The Pentax 645D (body only) will ship in December 2010 for the price of $9,995.95. The smc PENTAX-D FA 645 55mm F2.8 lens will ship at the same time for $1,199.95. American photographers interested in seeing the camera in the flesh can do so at PDN Photoplus Expo from October 28-30 at the Jacob Javitz Center in New York City. The company also announced that the 645D has received an American Photo Magazine Editor’s Choice 2010 award.

Sony Japan have stated that the new A55 and A33 cameras suffer from reduced recording times when using the video mode due to the camera’s sensor overheating. Seemingly exacerbated by switching the image stabilisation on, the A55 can only record up to 9 mins of video at 20 degrees celsius and 6 mins at 30 degrees, while the A33 fares slightly better at 11 mins and 7 mins respectively. Turning the IS system off substantially improves those times, so you’ll have to dispense with it and use faster shutter speeds to maximise the length of a continuous video clip.

Canon has announced that its EOS 5D Mark II DSLR cameras were used for capturing crucial images in a key action sequence in Iron Man 2. The scene in question is the one in which the titular character’s alter ego Tony Stark drives a race car in the Historic Monaco Grand Prix and is attacked by super-villain Ivan Vanko. The Canon digital SLR cameras were used to capture moving background plates on location in the famous European principality and to provide crash-cam footage amid the scene’s high-speed auto race. “The new manual exposure firmware introduced during the shoot enabled us to expose 5D Mark II imagery more similarly to the film we were shooting,” cinematographer Matthew Libatique noted. “That was the sealer for us. Once that manual firmware was installed we knew that we were going to be using the 5D Mark II.”

The Hasselblad H4D-31 is a 31-megapixel version of the Hasselblad H4D medium-format digital SLR camera, which sells for less than €10,000 including a lens. Equipped with the same advanced technology as the H4D-40, the H4D-31, features Hasselblad’s True Focus, which provides focusing accuracy throughout the image field – even at close range with shallow depth-of-field.Featuring the company’s Hasselblad Natural Color Solution with its single colour profile, the Hasselblad H4D-31 makes it easy for medium-format photographers to get professional results from the camera. Currently shipping, the H4D-31 is available in two configurations, both with the latest version of Hasselblad’s Phocus 2.6 software. The first kit includes an 80mm lens, whereas the other offers a digital solution for V-system users by bundling the H4D-31 with a CF-lens adapter. Both options are priced at €9,995+VAT.

One of the bigger surprises at Photokina is Sigma’s new flagship DSLR, the SD1. Featuring a 46 megapixel 24×16mm APS-C X3 image sensor that took subsidiary company Foveon 2 years to develop, and a weather-sealed magnesium body, the Sigma SD1 will be launched in February 2011 at a very rough price of around £1,800-2,000 in the UK.

We grabbed some hands-on time with the new Sigma SD1, and also both variants of the new Sigma EF-610 DG flashgun and the 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM, which Sigma claim is their best-ever telephoto lens. Here are 17 hands-on photos of the Sigma SD1 DSLR camera.

Hasselblad today unveiled a limited-edition Hasselblad H4D produced in cooperation with Ferrari. Finished in a new Ferrari colour called rosso fuoco, or fire red, the Hasselblad H4D Ferrari Edition has been created in celebration of two of the most iconic European brands, both of which started their career in the 1950s. Limited to just 499 cameras worldwide, this special edition camera was unveiled this morning at the Photokina trade show, and we were there to snap a few pictures of it for you.