The Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 DC HSM | Art, 24-35mm F2 DG HSM | Art (pictured) and 20mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art lenses have received TIPA awards. The 50-100mm f/1.8 lens has been named "Best Telephoto Zoom," the 24-35mm has won the title "Best Wide-angle Zoom" and the 20mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art prime has been chosen as this year's best professional DSLR lens.

The Polaroid SelfieDisc IR remote shutter control accessory for SLR cameras allows photographers to remotely snap a photo as well as start and stop video recordings. The compact button design attaches to the front of most Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony SLR cameras and offers extended remote shutter control via the Polaroid SelfieDisc Android/iOS app. Available as a free download, the app photographers control over their camera’s timer and shutter delay, allowing them to manage time-lapse and stop-motion animation photoshoots via a smartphone or tablet. The Polaroid SelfieDisc is now available from Amazon for $29.99.

The Ilford GALERIE Prestige Gold Fibre Gloss paper has received a TIPA award in the inkjet photo paper category. The TIPA panel particularly liked the fact that the GALERIE Prestige Gold Fibre Gloss was reminiscent of a traditional fibre-based darkroom paper and was ideal for reproducing black-and-white prints. In previous years, the GALERIE Prestige Gold Fibre Silk, GALERIE Prestige Smooth Pearl and Gloss and GALERIE Prestige Mono Silk papers have also been awarded this accolade.

Wex Photographic is hosting its inaugural Wex London Lens Show within a three-storey Victorian warehouse venue on Saturday, 30 April 2016. Visitors to this free event will see demonstrations of the latest in lens technology from all the leading brands and can participate in a range of interactive experiences led by industry professionals, from workshops and photo walks to seminars and studio set-ups. “We are delighted to announce our first London Lens Show,” said Louis Wahl, Chief Customer Officer at Wex Photographic. “This is going to be a unique, full-day event for photographers and videographers of all skill levels, taking place at a spectacular venue beside Tower Bridge.” The event will take place at 47-49 Tanner Street, London, SE1 3LP from 10am to 4.30pm.

Tamron has announced that two of its lenses have been presented awards at the “TIPA Awards 2016” ceremony hosted by the Technical Image Press Association. The Tamron SP 35mm F/1.8 Di VC USD (pictured) has been named "Best DSLR Prime Lens of the Year," whilst the Tamron18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC has won the title "Best Entry-Level DSLR Lens."

Lexar have announced the Lexar microSD Reader, which features a Lightning connector for quick transfer of files to an iPhone or iPad. “Users who are looking to capture more content in real time while on the move can find it challenging to manage that content, especially in an iOS device,” said Steffi Ho, product marketing manager, Lexar. “Shooters can now take advantage of the large screens and connectivity of their iOS devices by editing and uploading content captured on their action sports and aerial cameras wirelessly. Users no longer need to wait until they’re back in front of their main computer at home or in the office to upload content captured on-the-go.”

Think Tank Photo are set to release seven strong soft-sided video cases. The largest, the Video Rig 24 rolling case ($519.75, pictured), holds a fully assembled 24” video rig and features inset channel aluminium tubing for added strength and durability. The mid-sized bag, the Video Transport 20 ($429.75), holds a video camera body, four to six lenses (detached), shotgun microphone, small monitor, 4K recorder, audio recorder, additional accessories, and up to a 17” laptop in a padded sleeve. The smallest, the Video Workhorse 19 shoulder bag ($229.75), holds a professional camcorder or video cameras up to 19” and features striated aluminium and arched twinwall reinforced struts to create a collapse-proof lid.

Leica have released the newest firmware update for the Leica SL compact system camera. Version 2.0 includes numerous new features and improvements: the autofocus system has been revised and optimised, offering even faster focusing, higher precision and optimized subject tracking. A further improvement increases the number of AF focusing points available for the single point AF setting to 529. The update also features direct exposure compensation controlled by the top dial and the click wheel on the back of the camera in the three automatic exposure modes: P, T and A, as well as an extended range of shutter speeds. Further improvements include updates to the JPG quality, white balance, the video menu, Auto ISO options and the focus peaking function, while images in DNG format can now be magnified for better evaluation. The camera is also compatible with all Leica flash units and an update to the app allows the use of the optimized functions. Registered camera users can log in to the Leica Owner’s Area to download the new firmware.

Fotodiox have announced that three new products will be launching from the show floor at the 2016 NAB Show in Las Vegas: the Flapjack LED Ring Light ($359.95), the FlapJack LED Wand ($349.95) and the CamDolly Cinema System ($3,995.00, pictured). Billed as the industry’s first truly portable and modular dolly system for professional-grade video and film equipment, the CamDolly Cinema System includes everything a filmmaker needs to build five different dolly modes, or "protocols" – each designed to create a specific type of shot.. A single person can move all of the system's components to a shooting location with ease, and assemble the CamDolly into one of its five protocols in under 15 minutes. The constant-source FlapJack LED Ring Light is compatible with 15mm and 19mm rail systems or any ¼-20 thread mount runs on industry standard Sony NP-F style batteries or AC power, and comes with a custom-fitted travel case. The FlapJack LED Wand comes with a pistol grip handle that allows the user to more easily position the light for various shots, or even perform artistic light painting for long-exposure shooting. Like the Ring Light, the Wand is fully adjustable between Daylight and Tungsten colour temperatures and comes with a custom-fitted travel case. All three products will be available from 16 April 2016.

Meyer Optik Görlitz has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the launch of the Trioplan f2.9/50 lens. The new 2016 Trioplan f2.9/50 offers creative photographers the most versatile Trioplan yet with a built in front element that provides a macro capability of 1:4 and the brand’s famous 'soap bubble' bokeh. The new Kickstarter project takes the legendary Trioplan 50 design and updates it with state-of the art materials and handmade manufacturing capabilities. Backers will be able to fund the lens and get it at an extraordinary low price, starting at $449. Meyer-Optic expects the lens to retail for $1,299 once Kickstarter fulfillment is completed next winter. The Trioplan 50 will be available for both mirrorless and DSLR cameras, including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji and Leica brands.

The Zeiss Batis 2.8/18 is a new full-frame UWA lens for Sony E-mount cameras. Featuring eleven elements in ten groups, the new lens offers a diagonal angle of view of 99° and a close-focus point of 9.8". Four of the lens elements are aspheric on both sides and seven are made from special types of glass. Weighing in at 330 grams, the Zeiss Batis 2.8/18 has an innovative OLED display showing the current focus distance and depth of field. The lens will be available from May at an SRP of $1,499 + VAT.

Manfrotto have announced their new Off Road Stunt Bag Collection. Dedicated to action camera lovers, the range includes several new products that securely organise action photo-videography equipment: the Manfrotto Off Road Stunt Backpack (available black and grey/red), the Manfrotto Off Road Stunt Case (available in Small and Medium) and the Manfrotto Off Road Stunt Roll Organizer. Prices start from £34.95 for the Stunt Case, £34.95 for the Stunt Roll Organizer and £119.95 for the Off Road Stunt Backpack.

Tenba today announced a sneak peek of the new Cineluxe video camera bag collection at the upcoming NAB Show. The first to bring the “doctor bag” style opening to backpacks and rolling cases, Tenba’s new collection features novel "Flex-Core" dividers, a waterproof “Body Armor” bottom panel, and a selection of protective padded wraps and pouches that allow sensitive equipment to be safely stored alongside larger cameras and rigs. Each bag includes a WeatherWrap rain cover and trolley straps to piggyback onto larger rolling cases. Cineluxe bags will be available in July.

The Blackmagic Industrial Design Team, led by Simon Kidd from Australia, has been named the Red Dot Design Team of the Year. Dynamically emerging from a tech start-up to become a global industry leader, Blackmagic Design's cameras and software have been used in many acclaimed Hollywood films including The Martian, Mad Max: Fury Road, Furious 7 and Avatar. “Simon Kidd’s team has developed a reputation for combining user-centred design with highly innovative engineering to consistently deliver products that not only challenge, but change markets,” said Prof. Dr. Peter Zec, founder and president of the Red Dot Award. “Their strong product language is backed by a deep-rooted design philosophy that is focused on use and function in an uncompromising way. That makes Blackmagic Design the deserved recipient of the highest Red Dot title in 2016.”

Aimed at both hobby and pro photographers and videographers in the UK, Lens Lab is primarily an equipment hire business - with a twist. Photographers can hire equipment for 1 day or 1 year to complete a paid photography assignment or just to have some fun. The twist is that the company also offers events such as meet-ups, photo walks and equipment tryout opportunities. Additionally, photographers can sell their gear or lend their gear out through the website. As part of their launch programme, Lens Lab is running a competition to give away £2000 of equipment.

Benro have added two new tripod kits to their video lineup. The new Pro versions of the Benro BV4 (8.8 lb payload capacity) and BV6 kits (13.2 lb payload capacity) incorporate the eighth generation two-stage aluminium tripod. This professional tripod is a double tandem leg design that uses an adjustable, removable spreader, a metal 75mm bowl, oversized quick positive leg locks and dual spike feet with pads, making this kit perfect for heavy loads and rigged cameras. Both kits are designed for more demanding filmmakers and videographers - allowing for precise control over the counterbalance, pan drag and tilt drag. Both sizes will be on hand for live demonstrations at NAB this week (Central Hall Booth #C1307).

Intro 2020 has been appointed the sole UK distributor of Cullmann products. Cullmann tripods include a range of flexipods available in three sizes and three colours, plus mini tripods, full size tripods and the top of the range Titan 935 tripod, a large photo/video tripod that supports 21kg of equipment. Tripod prices start from £13.99 and rise to £399.00 for the Titan 935 model. The Cullmann bag range includes the Sydney PRO Action zoomster, the Ultralight Sport and Lima backpacks and two more traditional camera bags – the Ultralight PRO Maxima 120 and 300. There are also two messenger-style Madrid bags and the new Sydney Maxima 425+ Pro bag. Cullman bags start from £35.99.

The new Lytro Cinema is billed as the World’s first Light Field solution for film and television. With Lytro Cinema, every frame of a live action scene becomes a 3D model: every pixel has colour and directional and depth properties bringing the control and creative flexibility of computer-generated visual effects to real world capture. The system opens up new creative avenues for the integration of live action footage and visual effects with capabilities like Light Field Camera Tracking and Lytro Depth Screen -- the ability to accurately key green screens for every object and space in the scene without the need for a green screen. Lytro Cinema comprises a camera, server array for storage and processing, which can also be done in the cloud, and software to edit Light Field data. The entire system integrates into existing production and post-production workflows, working in tandem with popular industry standard tools. The system is capable of recording 755 raw megapixels at up to 300fps and offers up to 16 stops of dynamic range. Lytro Cinema will be available for production in Q3 2016 to exclusive partners on a subscription basis.

Lensbaby today announced the availability of their new Twist 60 lens. This metal-bodied 60mm f/2.5 lens with gold anodised accents creates powerful portraits, spotlighting subjects by freeing them from their background and surrounding them with swirly blur and enhanced vignette. The brighter the aperture, the greater the swirl and the greater the vignette. The optical formula comprises 4 elements in 3 groups and a 12-bladed iris diaphragm that can be stopped down all the way to f22. The Twist 60 lens retails for $279.95 and is available via pre-order beginning today. Shipments commence on 5th May. A Twist 60 Optic ($179.95) will also be sold separately for use with other Lensbaby Optic Swap System-compatible lenses.

Leica have released a new firmware update for the Leica S (Typ 007) medium-format DSLR camera. Version 3.0.0.0 adds automatic lens update, whereby lenses with older firmware will now be automatically recognised and updated. Further optimisations include customisability of the Live View button, as well as the shutter release, which can now be programmed for AE lock. Also new with this firmware are improved symbols for camera settings. Registered Leica S customers in the UK can log in to the Leica owners’ area and download the firmware or take their camera to a Leica Store or Leica Customer Care for a complimentary update service.