Nikon today released a beta version of Capture NX-D, a new application for processing and adjusting raw image files generated by Nikon digital cameras. Intended to replace the current Capture NX 2 software, Nikon Capture NX-D will support many functions needed by professional photographers, including batch image processing, filtering and an enhanced user interface with a variety of displays and floating palettes that are ideal for multiple monitors. During the period that Capture NX-D is available as a beta version, Nikon will invite users to try the software, and will collect feedback about the user experience and the application from those using it. To download the beta version of Nikon’s Capture NX-D, visit the website below.

Elinchrom has launched two new mains flashes for professional photographers. Billed as the world's most complete, feature rich compact studio flash units, the ELC Pro-HD 500 (£699) and 1000 (£899) boast recycle times of 0.6s and 1.2s to full power, respectively. Furthermore the super fast flash durations (up to 1/5000s / 1/5260s, t0.5, ELC 500 / ELC 1000) enable you to freeze motion like never before. These are the first units to incorporate OLED screens that displays every control for the most professional user experience. As well as Elinchrom’s stop-based power scale, you will now be able to see the power in Joules, flash durations and many other settings. A jog wheel provides easy navigation of the new menu.The new Elinchrom ELC 500 and 1000 will be shown for the first time in the UK at The Photography Show in Birmingham (Flash Centre, Stand P60, Hall 12).

The Sony Xperia Z2 is a new waterproof smartphone with 4K Ultra HD movie recording and digital noise cancelling technology. Other photography/videoraphy related features include a 20.7-megapixel camera module incorporating a 1/2.3-type CMOS image sensor and Sony G lens, SteadyShot image stabilisation technology, 5.2" Full HD screen and a new Movie Creator, allowing you to trim and crop your videos so that you can easily pick out what you want to share. The Xperia Z2 will launch globally from March 2014.

Samsung today announced the fifth generation of the Galaxy S series, the Galaxy S5, which boasts a 16-megapixel camera, 0.3-second autofocus, HDR exposure blending, software-based selective focus capability, 4K Ultra HD video capture and a 5.1" Full HD super-AMOLED display. The water- and dust-resistant Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone is expected to hit the market in April 2014.

Unified Color has announced the call for entries for its latest HDR imaging contest. To enter, participants are asked to choose their favourite HDR image(s) and resize them to 72ppi in .jpg or .bef format and email the entries to Unified Color at [email protected]. Submissions are accepted through 31st March. The body of your entry email must include your name, current email address and the following statement: “I have read and accept the contest rules pertaining to Unified Color’s 2014 HDR Photo Contest.” All entries must have been edited in HDR Expose 3, HDR Express 3 or 32 Float v3 at some point in its creation. The winners will be announced on or around 11 April 2014. The grand prize winner will receive a $500 gift card to B&H Photo, and the two recipients of Honourable Mentions will each receive a $100 gift card to B&H Photo. As always we suggest that you read the rules before entering your work.

Canon has announced a variety of performance updates for cameras in its Cinema EOS and XF professional camcorder line. Designed for the capture of crucial, unpredictable scenes during wedding/event, documentary, news, or wildlife filming, the Continuous Recording Function firmware update for the EOS C100 Digital Video Camera enables videographers to insert metadata markers identifying crucial scenes and moments in their footage while continuously recording to the memory capacity. A new Peripheral Illumination Correction firmware update adds the CN-E35mm T1.5 L F Cinema prime lens and the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM telephoto zoom lens to the seven other Canon CN-E Series Cinema Lenses that share this performance advantage, Finally, there is an optional dual-pixel CMOS autofocus feature upgrade available for the Canon EOS C300 Cinema camera, adding support for continuous AF with all compatible Canon EF series lenses when shooting subjects positioned in the centre of the imaging area. The Dual Pixel CMOS AF feature upgrade for the EOS C300 Cinema camera will be made available to users through an authorised service centre.

Experience Seminars have published their latest eBook, The Essential Guide to Landscape Photography. In this book, Nina Bailey takes a look at pure landscape photography and how to get the very best images. Addressing a diverse range of topics from lighting, best times to shoot, getting the colours correct, the use of polarising filters, framing and composition; the eBook has a download price of £4.95 each and is now available from the website below.

Hama has announced a new focusing hood with an adjustable eyepiece, which allows you to use the rear monitor of your camera as a viewfinder - even in bright sunshine. The lower part of the “Smart Viewer” can be used as a focusing hood; the upper part can be used separately as a magnifier and offers a magnification factor of 2.75 for checking the image quality of printed photos, for instance. Designed in Germany, the Hama Smart Viewer attaches to your camera using a click-frame with special adhesive strips which can be removed anytime without leaving any residue. Priced at €59.99 Hama Smart Viewer is available for cameras with 3.0" and 3.2" screens.

SanDisk today announced the new 128GB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC UHS-I memory card, billed as the world’s largest capacity microSD card. “SanDisk’s high-performance 128GB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC memory card will reshape the way users interact with their devices,” said Stuart Robinson, director, Handset Component Technologies, Strategy Analytics. “Until now, consumers had to spread out their content between multiple products because the memory on those devices was not able to hold enough data in one place. This 128GB microSD card is going to be popular as the preferred removable storage option, giving users fast, secure and reliable access to their personal data archives.” The 128GB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC card is available for €149.50.

Thule and Case Logic have joined the list of exhibitiors at The Photography Show, a new event dedicated to the imaging industry taking place at Birmingham’s NEC between Saturday 1 and Tuesday 4 March 2014. Available for a hands-on demonstration from Thule experts at the show, the Covert Collection is Thule's next-generation "smart" camera bag line. The key features that make the Covert Line unique are Thule’s SafeZone removable camera pod system with dual density padded bottom, origami-inspired divider system that folds around the smallest to largest pieces of gear for custom fit and protection, durable and water resistant, two-tone Oxford material. In addition to the Thule line-up, there will be an extensive collection of Case Logic camera bag collections on the stand, including the brand-new, award winning Luminosity Medium DSLR Split Pack. Do note that PhotographyBlog readers can purchase tickets to The Photography Show at substantially reduced prices using an exclusive discount code valid until 28th February.

Japanese camera and imaging blog Egami has spotted Olympus patent applications for two 12mm  f/1 and two 14mm f/1 AF lenses. The Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system already offers an assortment of f/0.95 lenses, courtesy of Cosina and SLRmagic - but these are all manual-focus lenses, whereas the patent-pending Olympus designs would allow for the incorporation of auto focus. Filed on 19 August 2012 and published on 20 February 2014, these patent applications include elaborate technical drawings that reveal some extremely complex optical designs, prompting Egami to speculate that software correction might be necessary to elminate chromatic aberrations and geometric distortions. In addition to the two 12mm and two 14mm MFT lens designs, Olympus has also filed patent applications for similarly fast lenses intended for smaller-sensor cameras - a 9mm f/1 lens covering an 1" sensor and a 5.46mm f/0.95 lens matching a 1/1.7" imager.

Via IR

Adobe has posted Release Candidate (RC) versions of ACR 8.4 for Photoshop CC and CS6. This update adds Camera Matching colour profiles (Provia/standard, Velvia/vivid, Astia/soft, monochrome etc.) for the Fujifilm X-A1, X-E1, X-E2, X-M1, X-S1, X-T1, X-Pro1, X10, X20, XF1, XQ1, X100 and X100S cameras; and raw image file support for the new Canon EOS 1200D, Casio EX-100, DJI Phantom, Fujifilm X-T1, Hasselblad H5D-50c, Hasselblad HV, Nikon D3300, Nikon D4S, Olympus OM-D E-M10, Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ60, Phase One IQ250, Samsung NX30, Sony Alpha a5000 (ILCE-5000) and Sony Alpha a6000 (ILCE-6000) cameras and backs. You can download Adobe Camera Raw 8.4 RC for Photoshop CC and ACR 8.4RC for Photoshop CS6 from the website below.

Website: ACR 8.4 for CC RC
Website: ACR 8.4 for CS6 RC

We have teamed up with The Photography Show to offer our readers a substantial discount on tickets to the Show, which will take place from 1-4 March 2014 at the Birmingham NEC. Those that book their tickets by 28th February using the coupon code PHBLG142014 will be able to purchase them at a discounted price of £10 instead of the regular adult price of £13 (advance) or £15 (on the door). Please note that a booking fee of £0.95 applies to all advance tickets (regular and discounted).

Comodo, a manufacturer of advanced camera stabilisation systems, has appointed MAC Group as its exclusive distributor in the US. Designed in the UK, Comodo cinema rigs - such as the Orbit - are noted for their originality and innovativeness. "Our strategy is to continue to bring new and exciting products to the camera stabilisation arena by focusing on innovative and revolutionary products," says Emerson Roberts, Managing Director, Comodo. "Our dynamic new distribution arrangement with MAC Group will enable us to do that. MAC Group will provide the kind of marketing and distribution expertise we need to build a strong presence in the USA and reach filmmakers of all kinds."

This Saturday marks the one year anniversary of A Day Without News?, a campaign launched by Getty Images’ Aidan Sullivan and agroup within the media and photojournalism communities to raise awareness of the risks faced by journalists and photojournalists in war zones. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has estimated that in the last year alone 70 journalists and media professionals were killed doing their job, with Syria being the most dangerous country to operate from, accounting for 28 deaths. "“In just one year, we have played an important part in raising awareness, and having the UN pass a resolution will further strengthen the security of our colleagues," Sullivan said in a statement. "Currently, we are working towards a collaboration with a leading US University to initiate a ‘clinic’, designed to uncover evidence of targeted attacks against journalists in conflict zones.  We hope this information will build a case that can be taken to the international and national tribunals or courts to prosecute those responsible for targeting journalists.”

Magnum Photos is extending a five-year relationship with its educational partners IdeasTap, through the delivery of free ‘Professional Practice’ training courses for photographers. Professional Practice is a two-day masterclass aimed at early practitioners, providing photographers with impartial industry knowledge and a unique opportunity to begin establishing a professional network. The first London event will be held from 15th – 16th March, hosted at The Magnum Print Room, 63 Gee Street,

VeryFirstTo.com is offering the chance to capture 10 of the most sensational views across the globe with the latest  cameras from Fujifilm. From the iconic and breathtaking Grand Canyon in the USA to the snow capped Himalayas, including Mount Everest in Nepal, each location is known for being both photogenic and awe inspiring. Theo Georghiades, Senior Business Manager at Fujifilm says of the trip, “In a world where selfies are the norm and are cluttering the photographic world, it is time to turn the camera back around and capture the most spectacular places in the world.  These are truly breathtaking subjects with stunning cameras selected to deliver the best possible memories.” The luxury vacation costs £72,000.

Fujifilm has posted firmware updates for three Fujinon lenses. Version 1.11 for the Fujinon XF55-200mm f3.5-48 R LM OIS, version 1.12 for the Fujinon XC16-50mm f3.5-5.6 OIS (pictured) and version 3.11 for the Fujinon XF18-55mm f2.8-4 R LM OIS improve the effectiveness of the optical image stabiliser when shooting stills or movies. Additionally, the upgrades for the 18-55mm and 55-200mm improve auto focus response when the lenses are used in combination with the Fujifilm X-T1 and X-E2 compact system cameras.

Website: Fujinon XF55-200mm f3.5-4.8 Firmware Version 1.11
Website: Fujinon XC16-50mm f3.5-5.6 Firmware Version 1.12
Website: Fujinon XF18-55mm f2.8-4 Firmware Version 3.11