The winners of the Sony World Photography Awards have just been announced. The awards included four competitions - Professional, Open, Youth and Student Focus. The Professional competition was divided into fourteen categories, and the winners are Amélie Labourdette (Architecture), Kirstin Schmitt (Candid), Julien Mauve (Conceptual), Maroesjka Lavigne (Landscape), Marcello Bonfanti (Portraiture), Alberto Alicata (Staged), Francesco Amorosino (Still Life), Jetmir Idrizi (Campaign), Asghar Khamseh (Contemporary Issues), Angelos Tzortzinis (Current Affairs), Espen Rasmussen (Daily Life), Kevin Frayer (Environment, People), Nikolai Linares (Sport). Asghar Khamseh also won the "L'Iris D'or - Photographer of the Year" award. The Open Photographer of the Year is Kei Nomiyana from Japan for his series, 'Enchanted Bamboo Lights.' Sam Delaware from the United States has been awarded the Youth Photographer of the Year title. RongRong & inri, the influential photographic husband and wife team who have shaped contemporary photography in China and beyond, were recognised for their Outstanding Contribution to Photography.

Photo: Kei Nomiyama, Open Photographer of the Year

Want to see exactly what the new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III compact camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III compact camera, which features a 1"-type 20.1-megapixel sensor and a 24-600mm (eq.) f/2.4-4 lens.

SanDisk today launched the iXpand Flash Drive, a mobile storage device designed to help people free up space on their iPhone and iPad with up to 128GB of additional capacity. The iXpand Flash Drive features a Lighting connector and a USB 3.0 connector for faster transfer speeds, plus a completely redesigned app to easily manage photos and videos. The new drive also includes encryption software that password-protects files. The iXpand Flash Drive is available in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB capacities, with MSRPs of £34.99/$49.99, £44.99/$69.99, £59.99/$89.99 and £89.99/$129.99, respectively.

Pelican Products have launched their newest Pelican Air cases, engineered to maintain the same standard of durability as the classic Pelican Protector in a much lighter package. Available in six long-form, travel-ready sizes, Pelican Air cases are constructed of lightweight HPX2 resin, which rebounds to stress without breaking. With the busy traveler in mind, the 1535 Pelican Air case complies with overhead bin standards and the 1615 Pelican Air case (pictured) complies with current airline check-in size regulations. Pelican Air cases are available through select dealers, distributors and retailers starting 1 May 2016.

The Sigma MC-11 mount converter is now available in the UK. Enabling Sony NEX camera users to attach Sigma's SA- and EF-mount lenses to their camera bodies, the adapter incorporates the digital data necessary to provide fast and smooth AF for compatible lenses as well as image stabilisation and functions of the camera that help control peripheral brightness and correct transverse chromatic aberration, distortion, and more. In addition, since Sony E-mount camera bodies do not require mechanical integration with lenses for aperture control, the Sigma MC-11 makes the lenses fully compatible with the automatic exposure control of Sony E-mount camera bodies. The Sigma MC-11 mount converter is available for £219.99.

DJI has announced it will offer its Micro Four-Thirds Zenmuse X5R camera for use with the Osmo image stabilisation system. “When we launched the Osmo, we reimagined motion,” said Senior Product Manager Paul Pan. “With the DJI Osmo RAW, we’ve gone even further. Now, creators and filmmakers will no longer have to choose between image quality and image stability, no matter from what perspective they’re shooting.” Gimbal motors will ensure image stability on three axes, with pan and tilt functions accessible either by using the Osmo’s thumb stick or through the DJI GO app. Users can also control the X5R’s focus and aperture from within the iOS or Android app or via an optional DJI Focus unit. Also available for the Osmo system is the Micro Four-Thirds X5 camera and gimbal, called the Osmo Pro. Pricing and availability of the Osmo Pro and Osmo RAW will be announced shortly, the company says.

Miggo has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the commercialisation of its Pictar smartpone case. Billed as "probably the best iPhone camera-grip ever built," Pictar brings SLR-style controls - such as a physical shutter release and an exposure compensation wheel - as well as a tripod socket, a "smart wheel" and a zoom ring, to a number of currently available iPhone models. The new accessory is designed to communicate with the iPhone via a dedicated camera app which unlocks key features inaccessible on the native app to iPhone users. Each of the physical controls found on Pictar drive a specific function or setting and does so using high-frequency dual tone sounds. Each physical control is assigned a specific tone, and with each turn of a dial, press of a button or turn of a wheel, Pictar emits a sound that – when detected by the app – generates a corresponding action. The high-frequency dual tone (18,500 – 20,000 khz) is inaudible to the human ear and significantly increases battery life when compared to Bluetooth connectivity. Interested readers are encouraged to pay a visit to Pictar's Kickstarter project page.

DJI have introduced the Matrice 600 (M600), their next-generation aerial platform for professional aerial photography. The M600 integrates DJI’s new A3 flight controller and features Lightbridge 2 video-transmission technology that offers high frame rates and HD live-streaming capability at distances up to 5km. The 6-rotor system has a maximum payload of 6kg, allowing it to carry the full range of DJI’s Zenmuse gimbals, the Ronin MX 3-axis gimbal and the Zenmuse X series cameras. It has actively cooled motors for more reliable flight, and its landing gear is retractable for full 360°, unobstructed imaging. The M600 will fly up to 36 minutes with a Zenmuse X5 camera attached and up to 16 minutes with a larger camera, such as a RED Epic. The M600’s retail price, including the integrated A3 flight controller with Lightbridge 2 and a full set of batteries, is €5,299.

Available in four different sizes, the new Zeiss Lens Gear Rings make the acclaimed Zeiss Loxia, Milvus and Otus lenses compatible with follow focus systems. Made of premium aluminium with a hardened surface coating, the Zeiss Lens Gear Rings slide onto the relevant lens and attached to the focus ring of the lens simply by turning the two counteracting rings. “This means the ZEISS Lens Gears can be attached in a flash – and you don’t even need any tools to do so,” explains Christophe Casenave, Product Manager at ZEISS Camera Lenses. “They fit on the different lenses of various diameters precisely and securely.” The ZEISS Lens Gears are supplied with a rubber-covered band, the GumGum, which features an adhesive surface. This means the inner diameter can be reduced accordingly, thus supporting other lens sizes. The GumGum also protects against scratches and other damage to the focus ring of the lens. Available from 21 April 2016, the new Zeiss Lens Gear Rings are priced from €150-€180 including VAT.

Schneider-Kreuznach has added a new ultra-wide-angle lens to its range of FF-Prime lenses. The design of the Xenon 18mm FF-Prime features a specially developed internal focusing mechanism and a T2.4 maximum aperture. The minimum focus distance is 0.4m (measured from the sensor plane). The T2.4/18mm FF-Prime will be available in the 4th quarter of 2016, priced at €5,498+VAT.

Canon has been awarded five accolades by the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA). The "Best Professional/High-Res DSLR" title went to the Canon EOS 5DS / 5DSR (pictured), while the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II has been named the year's "Best Photo/Video Professional Camera." The Canon IXUS 285 HS has won the "Easy Compact Camera" category, and the Canon PowerShot G5 X has received the "Best Expert Compact Camera" award. Last but not least, the imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 has been selected as the world's best photo printer.

The Technical Image Press Association today presented Panasonic with three TIPA awards. The Lumix DMC-FZ330 was named ‘Best Superzoom Camera,’ the the Lumix G 25mm F1.7 ASPH. normal prime (for the Micro Four Thirds system, pictured) has won the title ‘Best CSC Entry Level Lens,’ while the Panasonic HC-VXF990 has received the accolade for Best Camcorder.

Panasonic have announced the development of their new UX series of 4K handheld camcorders, and the immediate availability of the VariCam LT 4K cinema camcorder and AK-UC3000 4K studio camera. The VariCam LT 4K cinema camcorder inherits the high-quality Super 35mm sensor found in the award-winning VariCam 35, and delivers 14+ stops of dynamic range with V-Log. Weighing just under six pounds and having superior capability to similar sized cameras, the VariCam LT is available in four kits, with suggested list prices ranging from $18,000 to $30,200. The new UX series of professional 4K camcorders are currently under development and scheduled for release in autumn. The AG-UX180 is a premium model and features a 1"-type MOS sensor, 20x optical zoom, 60p UHD recording; dual codec recording, IR recording in low light, and 3G SDI/HDMI2.0 output. Variable frame rate recording in 1080p is also planned. The AG-UX90 is the standard model and features a 1"-type MOS sensor, 15x optical zoom and UHD 30p recording. The suggested list prices of the UX180 are expected to be under $4,000, and the UX90 under $3,000.

Irix have released thirteen high-resolution sample photos taken with the brand new Irix 15mm f/2.4 Blackstone and Firefly lenses. Captured with high-end DSLR cameras such as the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and the Nikon D810, many of these official Irix 15mm f/2.4 samples demonstrate excellent border-to-border sharpness, a high resolving power, good flare control and relatively low levels of barrel distortion. You can download the sample images from the website below.

Website: Irix on Flickr