The Olympus E-30 is a new 12.3 megapixel Four Thirds Standard DSLR camera. Positioned between the pro E-3 and consumer E-520 models, the mid-range Olympus E30 offers Live View framing via the free-angle 2.7” LCD screen, 11-point autofocus, 5fps sequential shooting, shutter speeds of up to 1/8000th sec, Supersonic Wave Filter dust reduction system and built-in image stabilisation. The E30 offers six Art Filters (Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light Colour, Light Tone, Grainy Film and Pin Hole), and there’s also a Multiple Exposure mode and nine separate aspect ratios. An integrated Level Gauge appears on the LCD, in the viewfinder, and on the Control Panel on the back of the camera, so your horizons should always be straight. The Olympus E-30 will be available from mid-January 2009 and retail for $1300 / £850 body only or £1200 with the 14-54 lens.

Canon have launched a new ad campaign, Make Photography New Again, for the new 5D Mark II and 50D DSLR cameras. Photographer Rick Guest was creatively challenged to explore new ways of interpreting four photography themes (light, detail, speed and motion), shooting in and around London, UK. Gregory Kukolj, Marketing Communications Director Canon Europe commented: ”The driving force behind ‘Making Photography New Again’ is the pursuit of powerful images through natural exploration and experimentation of light, detail, speed and motion without post production touch ups.”

Get Capture NX2 software free when you buy a Nikon D700 camera. UK customers purchasing a D700 from 1st November to 31st December 2008 can claim Capture NX2 for free. Claims must be received by 31st January 2009 to qualify, and the promotion is available on UK stock only.

Nikon have released a new firmware update for the D300 DSLR camera. Version 1.10 includes a large number of improvements, including greater focus accuracy in dynamic-area AF and contrast-detect AF modes, and better Auto white balance performance. Click the Continue link below for the full list.

Website: Nikon D300 Firmware Update 1.10 (Windows)
Website: Nikon D300 Firmware Update 1.10 (Mac)

Canon have released a new firmware update for the EOS 50D digital SLR camera. This firmware update (version 1.0.3) incorporates the following fixes:

  1. Corrects a phenomenon in which an image becomes overexposed when C.Fn.II-3 Highlight tone priority is set to “1” together with other camera settings. (This correction has already been incorporated in the Version 1.0.2 and later firmware.
  2. Corrects a rare phenomenon in which “busy” blinks on the camera’s display panel and the shutter cannot be released due to the timing of battery installation.
  3. Corrects a rare phenomenon in which “Err 99” appears on the camera’s display panel and LCD monitor and the shutter cannot be released due to the timing of pressing the shutter button.

Website: Canon EOS 50D Firmware Update 1.0.3

Olympus have reduced the price of the E-420 DSLR camera to less than £300 in the UK. Greg Connell, General Sales Manager - Digital SLR, said of the new price structure: “The price drop for the E-420 shows Olympus’ determination to offer the consumer an award-winning product at an even more competitive level. Consumers will now be able to enjoy an Olympus D-SLR at a similar price to some compacts.” Effective from today, the E-420 will cost £289.99 body only, £349.99 with the 14-42mm kit lens, and £449.99 with the 14-42mm and 40-150mm kit lenses.

The US price of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 has now been confirmed. The World’s first Micro Four Thirds camera will cost $799 with the 14-45mm kit lens when it launches in in mid-November. The new 45-200mm telephoto lens will cost $349 and also be available in in mid-November. In the UK, the kit price has been confirmed as £599.

Olympus, Panasonic and Sigma have launched a collaborative firmware update service for the Four Thirds System standard. The new online service allows users to update the firmware in their Four Thirds DSLR lenses, even when the camera and lens are not made by the same manufacturer. Previously, lens firmware could only be updated when the lens was mounted on a camera made by the same manufacturer. Scheduled to start today, this new joint service is the first of its kind in the photography industry.

Samsung are currently working on their third DSLR camera, scheduled for release in 2009. According to the report by What Digital Camera, Samsung’s new DSLR will be jointly developed with Pentax and will be based around an APS-C size sensor. The as yet un-named model will be significantly different to the current GX-20 (pictured), with video recording a possible inclusion.

Website: What Digital Camera - Samsung confirms plans for new DSLR

The new Olympus E-520 Evolution Kit includes four lenses that cover a 33x zoom focal length range of 9-300mm. The limited edition Evolution Kit also includes the new Olympus FL-50R remote control wireless flash unit,memory cards, a swing bag and other handy accessories. The Olympus E-520 Evolution Kit will become available in limited quantities from October 2008 for £1,499.99.

The new Olympus E-420 Komachi Kit brings together the E-420 body with the ZUIKO DIGITAL 25mm 1:2.8 pancake lens. Also included in the Komachi Kit are a hand-made leather case and strap featuring a fashionable retro design. The Olympus E420 Komachi kit is available in limited quantities and also includes a 1GB CompactFlash memory card, LCD lens protector and a lens cloth, available in October 2008 for £539.99 / $749.99.

Olympus have released a firmware update, version 1.1, for the E-520 DSLR. The new update improves the brightness level of the optical viewfinder AF target points.

Website: Olympus E-520 Firmware Update 1.1

Olympus have released a firmware update, version 1.1, for the E-420 DSLR. The new update improves the brightness level of the optical viewfinder AF target points.

Website: Olympus E-420 Firmware Update 1.1

Canon have announced cashback offers on three of their EOS DSLR camera range. Valid until 12th January 2009, there’s £30 / €40 off the EOS 1000D (pictured) with 18-55 IS kit lens, £50 / €65 off the EOS 450D, and £60 / €75 off the EOS 40D. Participants must be resident in the European Union, and the offer only applies to purchases made between Monday 15 September 2008 and Monday 12 January 2009.

Perhaps the most bizarre product on display at last week’s Photokina show was the Sony Alpha computer game for Playstation 3. “Harnessing the synergy” between the different divisions of the vast Sony empire, a 20 level version of the Alpha game is apparently available in Japan, although Photokina visitors had to make-do with the 2 levels that had been converted to English. From our brief glimpse of the game, players had to work their way through the Sony Alpha camera ranks by completing a serious of photographic challenges, starting off with a Konica Minolta Dynax camera and going on safari. This largely educational game is based upon a tie-in with National Geographic magazine, featuring stills and video from the NG archives, so is particularly well-suited to the younger members of your family. No word on when or if a full version Sony Alpha game for Playstation 3 will be released outside Japan.

Update: We have a gallery of photos of the Sony Alpha game for Playstation 3 - click the continue link below…

Nikon have just released a firmware update, version 1.11, for the 10 megapixel Nikon D80 DSLR camera. Version 1.11 resolves an issue which, in rare cases, causes the battery indicator to blink whilst shooting regardless of the level of charge in the battery.

Website: Nikon D80 Firmware Update 1.11 (Windows)
Website: Nikon D80 Firmware Update 1.11 (Mac)

The Leica S2 is a completely new digital SLR camera system, offering a 37 megapixel, 30x45mm sensor that’s 56% larger than full size 35mm. Designed from scratch in consultation with professional photographers, the Leica S2 does not use a conventional medium format or 35mm platform. The S2’ bespoke Kodak CCD sensor has enabled the Leica designers to produce the smallest camera in its class, sitting between the Canon EOS 5D and 1Ds Mk III DSLRs in size. The Leica “MAESTRO” image processor developed with Fujitsu specifically for the LEICA S2, allows the camera´s lenses, firmware and sensor to function at their optimum, producing market leading processing time and the highest level of picture quality with minimal energy output. Nine new lenses will be developed for the new Leica S-system.

Update 1: We have a gallery of 20 photos of the Leica S2 and assorted lenses, including an exclusive side-by-side comparison of Leica’s new DSLR with a Canon EOS 5D, and we’ve also posted our initial impressions of using the S2.

Update 2: Find out why the S2 is not called the S1, which parts of the S2 have been developed exclusively by Leica, and if the R10 will ever see the light of day - just click the continue link below…

The Sigma SD15 is a new 14 megapixel DSLR camera. Using the same 14 megapixel Foveon X3, APS-C sized sensor as the SD14, DP1 and new DP2, the Sigma SD15 incorporates the “TRUE II” new image processing engine, a large 3.0 inch LCD monitor and improved processing and operational speed. The SD15 is still very early in development, being shown at Photokina as a non-working prototype under glass. Sigma are giving very little away about the SD15, but Sigma UK’s Paul Reynolds confirmed that it will use SD Cards instead of Compact Flash (as on the previous SD14 model), and that it would be launched in Spring 2009.

Update: We have a gallery of photos of the Sigma SD15 - click the continue link below…

The Pentax K-m is a new entry-level DSLR camera offering simplified, user-friendly operation, and an easy-to-manoeuvre compact, lightweight body. The 10 megapixel Pentax K-m (also known as the K2000) includes a built-in anti-shake system, dust-removal, Auto Picture mode and 3.5 frames per second continuous shooting speed. The Pentax K-m / K2000 will retail at £399.99 with the new smc DA-L 18-55 lens or £499.99 with the smc DA-L 18-55 and 50-200mm lenses.

Update: Click the continue link to see a gallery of pictures of the new Pentax K-m DSLR, live from the Photokina show floor.

Olympus have announced the development of a new Four Thirds E-System DSLR camera, tentatively called the Olympus E-A1. Positioned between the E-520 and E-3 as a mid-level advanced amateur model, introduction of the new E-A1 camera is expected in the first quarter of the year 2009.  It will inherit some features from the E-3 such as the high-speed AF system using 11-points-full twin cross sensor and the built-in image stabilization mechanism. Other features include a new and updated feature to replace the current splash- and dust-proof function. The developed E-A1 camera will be exhibited at Photokina.

Today at 12midday CET, Olympus unveiled a non-working prototype of a new mid-range FourThirds DSLR that will slot in between the existing E-520 and E-3 models. We have some close-up shots of the mock-up – complete with a 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 lens mounted - for you to scrutinise. The new camera will inherit some of the features of the E-3, including the fast 11-point AF system, LiveView delivered on a hinged monitor, body-integral image stabilisation and a very similar user interface. Other than hinting at changes to the weatherproofing, Olympus have not provided much information on exactly what will differentiate this product from the E-3. The planned release date is Spring 2008.

We have a gallery of product shots of the new camera - hit the continue link below to see them…