Leica has issued a firmware update for the Leica T (Typ 701) compact system camera. Version 1.4 significantly improves the responsiveness of the camera, particularly in Live View mode, which now starts up in a fraction of a second. The Leica T’s AF speed has been doubled, and the camera's touchscreen-based functions now boast significantly shorter response times. The upgrade also adds compatiblity with the manufacturer's new full-frme SL lenses.

Tenba has introduced a new collection of canvas and leather bags outfitted with Tenba’s exclusive Quiet Velcro strips. Made from soft cotton canvas with full grain leather trim, Cooper materials have been carefully selected for their balance of style, strength and light weight. The peach-wax cotton canvas exterior has been specially coated to provide excellent water repellency, and it has been backed with an ultra light silicone-coated ripstop nylon liner. Cooper bags come in four sizes to fit everything from compact system cameras with an iPad mini, up to large SLRs with a 15-inch laptop. The Cooper 13 Slim is a unique configuration, built to protect a pro mirrorless camera system and still allow space for video accessories like microphones and a sound recorder. Pricing starts at $169.95 for the smallest model.

Available in two sizes, the Rival photo backpack is the flagship product in Ikigai's new camera bag line. In addition to its sleek looks and functionality, the Rival’s innovative defining feature and ‘inner strength’ is its removable, configurable camera cell. This provides added protection for your camera gear and allows you to easily switch backpacks without having to unpack and reload your equipment. The Medium Rival ($299.99/£269.99) and Large Rival ($349.99/£299.99) are available online and from select camera retailers.

Daniel ‘Danny’ Kleinman, title sequence designer for the James Bond series and director of Sony’s recent ‘Made for Bond’ advert has shared his tips for capturing action sequences. The ad follows a tense chase across London’s South Bank as Moneypenny fights off mysterious villains to deliver Bond’s Xperia Z5 phone (pictured). Danny advises budding action film makers to film on at least two cameras, rehearse the action at half speed if possible, get reaction shots, use the right kit and double check that everyone is happy with their roles in the action and understands the cues.

Photographs taken by actor Peter Sellers have gone on display in a unique retrospective exhibition to help raise money for the British Heart Foundation’s Nation of Lifesavers campaign. Curated by Sellers’ daughter, Sarah, and Sarah’s daughter Emily, Peter Sellers: Behind the Camera comprises 50 rare images either taken by the artist himself, or which relate to his photographic career. The week-long exhibition, which runs until Sunday 1st November, includes images of some of the most famous faces of the 60s and 70s including Nanette Newman, Ringo Starr, Liza Minnelli, Sophia Loren, Tessa Dahl and Charles Aznavour, as well as photographs of the Royal Family. Many of these images will be on sale in an online auction as well as a limited-edition photographic catalogue.

SanDisk has recognised the new LG V10 as the first smartphone to meet SanDisk’s guidelines for ‘Extreme Photo-Imaging Capabilities’ (EPIC). SanDisk EPIC is a SanDisk led marketing initiative which strives to foster and proliferate the incorporation of high-quality imaging capabilities in mobile devices. In meeting the SanDisk EPIC guidelines for smartphones, the LG V10 offers a variety of advanced video and photography capabilities, including, among others, multi-shot image capture in raw format and 4K Ultra HD video recording and playback. “An increasing number of our customers rely on their smartphone as their primary device to capture their memories in both photos and video. So, it was critically important to us to give the LG V10 truly exceptional imaging capabilities. We are thrilled for our LG V10 to be the first smartphone to meet SanDisk’s EPIC guidelines,” said Dr. Ramchan Woo, vice president of LG mobile communications.

Aerial Photography and Videography Using Drones by Eric Cheng is a new field guide that includes everything a new pilot needs to know to safely and proficiently capture still images and video from the air. Cheng is known for his thought leadership in the drone industry and spent nearly two years as Director of Aerial Imaging at DJI, the world’s largest drone manufacturer and creators of the Phantom quadcopter. “I am asked many times every day what drone to buy, and how to get started in aerial imagery. There’s a lot of confusion out there.” Cheng said. “I wrote this book to address that confusion. The content took me many years in the field to learn - it’s full of useful and pragmatic advice about storytelling using drones in the air.”

SkyPixel has announced the world’s premier drone photography competition. The 2015 SkyPixel Photo Contest invites both budding and professional aerial photographers to enter a selection of their best work. The competition is split into two groups, Professional and Enthusiast, each with their own awards for the following categories: Beauty, Unique Dronies, and Drones in Use, aimed at showcasing drones in the air, in addition to an overall Grand Prize. Judging the competition is a jury comprised of esteemed photographers and drone users including Sudhir Shivaram, Manish Mamtani, Greg Girard, Matt Waite and Wang Jianjun. The winners will be announced on 7 January 2016.

AEE Technology has announced the newest edition of its action camera: the S40 Pro. Featuring a bright red casing, the AEE S40 Pro is one of the lightest on the market and comes with a 16-megapixel sensor, 130-degree lens and a built-in 1250 mAh lithium-ion battery. Capable of recording Full HD movies at 30 frames per second, the camera can also capture time-lapse videos, shooting at 1, 2, 5, 10 and 30 second intervals. The camera is available for purchase directly through AEE and Amazon for $150.

The winners of the sixth Epson International Pano Awards have been announced. The overall winner of the 2015 Open competition is Max Rive from the Netherlands and his six-shot stitched panorama, 'The Ice Prison' (above). The Epson Digital Art Prize went to Darren Moore from the United Kingdom. This award is new to the competition and aims to reward excellence in modern digital post-processing. The overall winner of the 2015 Amateur competition is Mateusz Piesiak, whilst the new Jeff Mitchum Fine Art Prize has been awarded to Carlos F. Turienzo for his image, 'Lighting the Way.' The winner of the VR/360 competition this year is Russian photographer Dmitry Moiseenko, who created a breathtaking interactive aerial image of the Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano.

Want to see exactly what the new Zeiss Otus 28mm f/1.4 lens looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Zeiss Otus 28mm f/1.4 lens.