Panasonic has posted a firmware update for its Lumix GH4 compact system camera. According to the companVersion 1.1 improves the reliability of video recording performance. You can download the firmware uprade from the website below.

Website: Panasonic Japan

Manfrotto now have an extensive bag collection, which caters to all types of photographers, from the professional to the amateur.

We've teamed up with Samsung to give away a fantastic Samsung WB350F SMART camera. In addition, 3 runners-up will each receive a Samsung Plus microSDHC 8Gb memory card.

The lucky winner of the Samsung WB350F SMART camera is Alan Downie. Congratulations!

The three runners up, who each win a Samsung Plus microSDHC 8Gb memory card, are Petegk Salonika, Gaz Tanner and Elina Qonita.

People who want to capture and share powerful and unique images can now do so with the elegant and impressively equipped Samsung WB350F SMART Camera. This state of the art compact zoom camera comes with 21x optical zoom capabilities and a 23mm Wide Angle lens as standard, allowing users to create images with striking depth and detail. Whether zooming in on a subject from a great distance, or capturing a sprawling landscape that stretches for miles, the device delivers sharp detail and bright images on every shot.

The WB350F is also furnished with an impressive 16MP BSI CMOS sensor. This eliminates the need to use a flash at inopportune moments or at events – as the superior sensor needs less light than its conventional counterparts, without sacrificing image quality.

There are several different ways to enter - login via Facebook or enter your email address, then complete them all below to stand the best chance of winning! And refer your friends to get even more chances.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AKVIS has today released its newest program - AKVIS Pastel 1.0. This software application promises to turn your images into digital art, imitating one of the most popular artistic techniques - pastel painting. The new product is available as a standalone program and as a plugin for Adobe Photoshop and other image editors. You can choose one of the presets or change the pastel settings to create a unique painting. The adjustable effect parameters give you a strong sense of control, the company says. The software runs on Windows XP/Vista/Win7/Win 8 and on Mac OS X 10.4-10.9, with a home license selling for $49/€39.

Leica has released a firmware update for the Leica M (Typ 240) digital rangefinder camera. Version 2.0.1.5 enables live view capability with every lens (including older screw lenses via an adapter), adds a 'Video off' option to the Set menu, creates a new menu item called Exposure Simulation, extends the camera's Auto ISO options, adds new crop marks and a new Focus Peaking function, and much more. Click through scroll down for the details.

Fujifilm has issued a firmware update for its X-T1 compact system camera (pictured). Version 1.10 incorporates the following improvements and fixes:

• Addition of compatibility with "XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR"
• Improvement of "Exposure compensation/exposure indicator" in EVF. Values are added to the scales of the indicator for better visibility.
• Improvement of Movie-record button operability. To avoid an accidental movie shooting, the delayed time will become longer between the moment you press the button and a movie shooting starts or ends.
• The phenomenon is fixed that images are not recorded with the set interval when "INTERVAL" in "INTERVAL TIMER SHOOTING" is set to 5 sec or less. In this case, the setting of "IMAGE DISP." in "SCREEN SET-UP" will change to "OFF" automatically.

Website: Fujifilm X-T1 Firmware Update Ver.1.10

FXB International, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to lifting people out of extreme poverty, today launched a global photography competition to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The competition will see one talented amateur photographer win a half-day photography masterclass with world-renowned photographer, Jillian Edelstein and the chance to have their winning image featured alongside Jillian’s as part of an international exhibition launching at London’s prestigious gallery@oxo in August this year. The exhibition, Framing Hope: Celebrating 25 Years of Poverty Eradication with FXB International, will feature 25 inspiring images shot by Jillian Edelstein, capturing the stories of hope and success of families in Burundi, China, Colombia, India and Rwanda who joined the FXBVillage programme. To enter, amateur photographers will need to submit a single photograph that best conveys the theme "Framing Hope". Whether a striking portrait, a beautiful landscape or a single moment in time beautifully captured, we’re asking people to let their creativity flow and submit their defining image of hope.."  All entries will be displayed in an online gallery, with the five most-voted for, shortlisted for judging by an expert panel who will select the overall winner. The submission deadline is 25th July midnight BST.

Lytro today announced the Lytro Photo Adventure, ­ a chance for five U.S: photographers to win a once-in-a-lifetime, all-expenses-paid trip to Iceland to take part in an exclusive photo shoot with Chris Burkard, a premier adventure lifestyle photographer. By pre-ordering the Lytro Illum light field camera (pictured) before 31 July 2014 and submitting a photo shoot idea, photographers will be eligible to win a spot in the challenge. "I have shot Iceland many times, but never in the way that Lytro Illum will allow me to," said Burkard, winner of the 2010 Red Bull Illume Image Quest. "I cannot wait to experience this new photographic canvas with other photographers and capture the beauty of Iceland in its purest form." In addition to the five grand-prize winners, twenty first-place winners will be selected for an all-expenses-paid trip to attend the Medium Festival of Photography in San Diego. As always, we suggest that you read the rules before entering the competition.

Ichikawa Soft Laboratory has begun sales of Silkypix Developer Studio Pro6 Download Version (Mac OS). New features include improved noise reduction, a new soft proofing function and portrait beautification effect and improved processing speed. Silkypix Developer Studio Pro6 Download Version (Mac OS) is compatible with OS X v10.6 - 10.9, and requires a processor with 64-bit support, a minimum of 2GB of RAM and at least 10GB of available hard-disk space.

Communication Arts magazine has published the results of its 55th annual photography competition. Of the 5,223 entries submitted to the 55th annual photography competition, only 155 were selected by a jury of respected creative professionals. The selected projects are handsomely reproduced in Photography Annual 55, the July/August 2014 issue of Communication Arts, both in print and on the iPad, and online at the website below.

The Sony versions of the Metz mecablitz 44 AF-1 digital and 52 AF-1 digital now come equipped with new feet for cameras with “Sony Multi Interface” flash shoes. New Sony digital cameras incorporate new “Sony Multi Interface” flash shoes, which has made it necessary to adapt Metz's Sony-compatible flash units accordingly. With the new editions, it is no longer necessary to use a hotshoe adapter for mounting the Metz mecablitz 44 AF-1 digital and 52 AF-1 digital flashes on the new Sony cameras.

Adata has launched an industrial CFast card, which combines the form-factor of a Compact Flash card with a high-speed SATA interface for both high reliability and secure operation. Compatible with CFast 2.0 and SATA 3.1, the ISC3E CFast memory card offers sequential read/write speeds of up to 435/120 MB/s (MLC) and 165/170 MB/s (SLC). The card comes in capacities of 4GB-128GB (MLC) and 4GB-64GB (SLC) and features ECC (Error Code Correction) and S.M.A.R.T technology for high reliability of data transfer and security.

Benro's UK and Ireland importer/distributor, Kenro, is now supplying the new Hyacinth photo bag series in a range of colours - Blue, Pink, Grey and Black. Designed for SLR and CSC users, the Benro Hyacinth range of shoulder bags are easily distinguishable from traditional bags and can be carried either by the strong carry handle or the shoulder strap. The bags are available in two sizes, priced at £38.40 and £43.80.

Calumet Photographic has launched a new ‘Assistant Finder’ tool on its rental website. The easily accessible platform allows assistants to upload a bio, including information on their experience, specialities, location and examples of their work.. The system also allows for reviews and ratings; helping assistantso build their profile and with references from industry professionals that they have worked with. “We are very excited by this online tool; it is going to be invaluable to many of our customers,” says Jon Warner, Managing Director at Calumet Photographic. “So far, we’ve had over 65 assistants register from across the whole of the UK - this is a great start and we’re confident that this service will grow very quickly.” Use of Calumet Photographic’s Assistant Finder is completely free for both professionals and assistants.

Canon has launched a new microsite devoted to camera lenses. "Visitors will be enlightened about the possibilities unlocked through the many different kind of lenses available to them: macro, zoom, telephoto, prime, wide-angle, STM, tilt-shift and fisheye," the company says. "Through informative videos, sample imagery, and educational video content, photographers and videographers from entry level to advanced amateur status will learn how to determine which Canon EF or EF-S Lenses will best help them create more powerful images with their EOS digital SLR camera. Additionally, visitors will find helpful quick tips for shooting with each category of lens, from fisheye to telephoto."

The Sony a7/a7R: The Unofficial Quintessential Guide by Carol F. Roullard and Dr. Brian Matsumoto is a new title from Rocky Nook. Guiding the reader in using both the camera’s automated features and manual controls to take photographs that are a unique reflection of his or her creative personality; this book covers the features of the a7 and a7R, including automatic stitching to create panoramas, and multi-shot noise reduction that allows the use of extremely high ISOs. The 384-page volume is available for $39.99.