The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 is a 20-megapixel compact featuring a fast lens and a sensor with the same dimensions (13.2 x 8.8mm) as the ones in the Nikon 1 series cameras. The integrated, 28-100mm equivalent Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar zoom lens has a maximum aperture of f/1.8 at the wide end (though only f/4.9 at full telephoto). Complementing the “1.0-type” sensor and Zeiss lens, the optimised BIONZ image processor allows continuous shooting at up to 10fps at full resolution, while high-speed autofocus locks onto your target in 0.13 seconds, at least in ideal conditions. Full HD video recording, Auto Portrait Framing and a host of Picture Effects round off the features list. The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 will available from mid/late July 2012 for $650/£550.

Rollei has revealed four new add-on add-on lenses for the Apple iPhone 3G/4/4S. The new range includes the Rollei 12x Tele (€49.99), 9x Tele (€39.99), 0.5x Super Wide (€29.99) and 0.28x Fisheye converters (€19.99), which can be affixed to the iPhone via the supplied hard case. All of the new Rollei conversion lenses are available now.

The FEP European Professional Photographer of the Year Awards 2012 competition is now open for entries. Open to all professional photographers who are registered and resident in a European country, the FEP European Professional Photographer of the Year Awards offer six categories including Commercial, Illustrative, Landscape, Portrait, Reportage and Wedding. There are also two special sections: International Photographers, (for non- European professional photographers), and Young Photographers & Students.

PhotoShelter has released its 2012 Photography Blog Handbook, a free ebook aimed at photographers interested in launching or improving their blogs. The 41-page PDF offers photographers key insights on how blogging can help market their businesses, grow a following, and bring more potential clients to their websites. “This handbook will show you how to use your blog as an effective marketing platform, a top search engine optimization tool, and a direct extension of your brand,” the company says. You can download your copy of PhotoShelter’s 2012 Photography Blog Handbook by entering your email address at the website below.

Website PhotoShelter

Canon has unveiled the new “Photo Paper Pro Luster” (255 gsm) professional inkjet paper. Optimized for use with the Canon family of Pixma professional printers - the PRO-1, Pro9500 Mark II and Pro9000 Mark II - the Canon Photo Paper Pro Luster delivers vivid colours, reproduces sharp details, and produces black and white output with rich blacks and smooth tonality. With an expected availability of late June, Canon’s Photo Paper Pro Luster will come in two sizes, 8.5 x 11 and 13 x 19 inches, with an estimated selling price of $34.99 and $99.99 respectively.

Kris Matyskiewicz, from Watford and Thomas Casey from Islington have been announced as winners of the amateur and professional categories of the Barclays London by Bike photo contest. Kris’ inspiring photograph showcases two of London’s best cultural icons, Big Ben and the London Eye, in a shot featuring a silhouetted cyclist on the South Bank. Thomas’ entry (above) is a scenic shot of the lush greenery of Richmond Park, a known hot-spot for cyclists.

AlbumPro 2 is a new program that makes the creation of albums faster, more efficient and comfortable. Simplifying the design workflow through partly automated processes such as a template selector or the export function, the software is easy to use and comes with several integrated layout presets. A demo version is available at the website below.

AKVIS has released ArtWork version 7.0. This update introduces the Gouache style that lets creating a gouache painting from a photo. Also, the new version adds the preview images for the AKVIS presets. The update is free for all registered users. New users can purchase a home licence for $72. Available as a standalone application, as well as a plugin to a photo editor, the software runs on Windows XP/Vista/Win 7 and on Mac OS X 10.4-10.7, both 32 and 64 bit.

Fujifilm has launched its UK social channels, including an innovative new Facebook page. The company has developed an online presence across Twitter, Google+ and Tumblr. At the heart of the offering is a Facebook page featuring apps with magazine style content alongside a timeline on the Wall, highlighting the history of the brand from its inception in the 1930s to the present day. The platforms will be monitored closely, allowing Fujifilm to respond to users quickly and effectively, the company claims.

Trygger has announced its new crowd-funded iPhone case, which incorporates a sliding polariser for the built-in camera. Made of optical-grade glass, the adjustable Trygger Polarising Filter wheel has a rubberised edge to give you accurate control. The slim fitting cases will be available in 4 different colours through Trygger’s Kickstarter page.

Angry Chicken Software, the developers of five-star photo app “Photo Notes,” have released One Stop Crop 1.1. Billed as “the only photo editing app that truly streamlines the iPhone photo editing experience,” One Stop Crop let’s you crop, rotate and even straighten images and supports unlimited, undo and redo actions. Additionally, One Stop Crop integrates the familiar, Safari-style multi-page display to allow editing up to 10 photos at a time. The app is available on iTunes for $1.99.

Bolide Software has released Bolide Slideshow Creator 1.4 – the latest version of its freeware slideshow editor. The new version introduces a pan&zoom effect that lets you highlight important details in a photo, show particular objects or people in a picture in more detail, or simply make the slideshow more dynamic. Bolide Slideshow Creator v.1.4 can be downloaded from the website below.

Tiffen has released updates to Tiffen Photo fx and Tiffen Photo fx Ultra. The apps now provide a number of ways to share enhanced or retouched images, allow users to save their favorite Photo fx looks into presets and import into Tiffen Dfx 3 and provide faster processors. Additionally, the Tiffen Photo fx Ultra version now supports the high-resolution Retina display of the new iPad. Tiffen Photo fx 5.0 and Tiffen Photo fx Ultra 5.0 apps are available today for $2.99 and $4.99.

The two lucky winners of a Manfrotto Photo Kit are Charlotte Clark and Austin Taylor.

These kits include the new Manfrotto Compact Travel Tripod which will go perfectly with your Manfrotto Veloce Backpack! Each kit is worth £135!

The new Manfrotto Veloce III (Black) Backpack is the essential shooting backpack, which comfortably fits all your camera gear and tripod either inside or outside the bag as well as a 13” laptop (13” Apple). Grab your DSLR (with or without battery grip and up to a 16-35mm lens attached) via the top opening without having to open the entire bag. 1-2 additional lenses, flash and accessories fit in the bottom compartment.

The Manfrotto Compact Photo Kit (Grey) is the most compact full size support in the market. The five section legs and the unique reversible column provide maximum compactness for storage and transportation, and yet, when fully extended it is a full size tripod with no compromise on height. The quick action intuitive ball head allows you to simply and quickly set the position of your camera in any situation so you don’t lose the right moment.

For more information or to buy Manfrotto products online visit: www.manfrotto.co.uk

The winners of the May 2012 Photography Blog Competition have been announced. The theme for May was “Rain” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery. Here are the 5 winners:

1st Place
Drops of fun by MKatz
Prize: X-Rite ColourChecker Passport
Kindly donated by X-Rite
http://www.xritephoto.com/

Tamron has announced the addition of the Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD for Canon mount to the lens profile for aberration correction offered for Adobe Photoshop CS6, ACR 7.1 and Lightoom 4.1. With the new profile, customers who own the lens will be able to utilize the above software for easy correction of lens distortion, chromatic aberrations and peripheral brightness based on design data.

Canon U.S,A, is once again joining forces with several of the country’s acclaimed national parks to offer free photography workshops to visitors this summer. Providing participants with free equipment loans and professional photography instruction as they take part in a guided walking photo tour, the workshops also offer an opportunity to print images for free. New to this year’s program are Canon video workshop sessions.  Visitors can experience and learn about shooting video by using a Canon VIXIA camcorder or EOS digital SLR camera and participating in a hands-on videography demonstration with experts. Click through / read on for the detailed schedule.

Sprite Labs have announced an update to Paint FX. Version 3.1 adds three new HDR effects with advanced controls and new effects including “Flame”, “Cracked Paint”, “Cracked Tile”, “Grunge Film”, “Handmade Paper” and more. Paint FX 3.1 is available for $1.99 through the iTunes App Store.

Induro has announced the July 2012 availability of its new Dual Range (DR) Hi-Hat Tripod Set. Shown for the first time at NAB 2012, the new Induro DR Hi-Hat Tripod Set, designed with both photographers and videographers in mind, is a unique support system that provides a range of capabilities that makes this tripod compatible with the requirements of still cameras as well as video platforms. Boasting a surprisingly high load capacity of 220lb, the new DR Hi-Hat Tripod Set consists of both a short Aluminium Alloy tripod with 100mm Bowl, and a 100mm Half Ball Adapter. The Induro DR Hi-Hat Tripod Set will be available for $279.