DxO Labs have just released DxO Optics Pro 7.2.2 for Mac and Windows, offering support for the new Nikon D4 (pictured), as well as for the Olympus XZ-1 and Olympus PEN E-P1. Additionally, more than 500 new camera-lens combinations were added to the DxO Optics Module library during the past several weeks, crossing the milestone of 6,000 available modules. This means that DxO Optics Pro v7.2.2 now supports additional Canon, Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Samyang, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina and Zeiss lenses for numerous Canon, Fuji, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony cameras. This upgrade is free for all owners of DxO Optics Pro 7, as well as for photographers who acquired a license for DxO Optics Pro 6 after September 1, 2011.

X-Rite has announced its new portfolio of i1 colour management solutions which now include a redesigned i1Pro 2 spectrophotometer. The i1Pro 2 spectrophotometer introduces an expanded feature set including enhanced optical brightener compensation, a new position detection sensor, better temperature stability, plus new diagnostics and self-correction features. The i1Pro 2 device can be purchased as part of the i1Basic Pro 2, i1Photo Pro 2 and i1Publish Pro 2 product kits.

White Knight Press has just released the Photographer’s Guide to the Fujifilm X10 e-book, with a paperback edition scheduled for a late April launch. This book, a complete guide to the operation and features of the Fujifilm X10 digital camera, is a follow-up to the author’s earlier guides to advanced compact digital cameras, including the Fujifilm X100 as well as models by Leica, Panasonic, Canon, and Nikon. The new book explains all operations, features, menus, and controls of the Fujifilm X10 camera in clear language, providing guidance not only about how to accomplish things with the camera, but when and why to use certain features. The guide’s more than 200 photographs, almost all in full colour, provide illustrations of the camera’s controls and menus, and include examples of the various types of photographs that can be taken using the many creative settings of the camera. The 338-page book is available now in PDF format for download for $9.95 through the website below.

Unified Color Technologies have announced that their HDR software offerings now support Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4. The company has updated HDR Expose 2 and HDR Express to support Lightroom® 4 and tested for full compatibility. To download the free updates, users of the respective applications can simply choose the “Check for updates” option in the Help menu.

On 19th April, the Manfrotto School of Xcellence will host a webinar devoted to creative landscape photography. Presented by Pete Bridgwood, this one-hour tutorial will examine the role of colour, explaining how to use complementary colours and how to employ the accentuation or muting of colour most effectively. Taking place from 4pm to 5pm GMT, the webinar is free and open to all. For more details and to register, visit the website below.

Autodesk has announced a partnership with Photobucket to bring Pixlr photo editing tools to Photobucket users. Under this agreement, Photobucket will now offer its users Pixlr tools, including the popular Pixlr Editor and the newly revamped Pixlr Express. The partnership between the companies will also provide advertisers with a creative environment from which they can deliver custom, branded effects in Photobucket ad packages.

Nikon has issued firmware updates for the Nikon Coolpix S9200 and S9300 digital compact cameras. Version 1.1 (for each camera) addresses an issue that, in some rare cases, used to cause the camera to freeze when the built-in flash was raised while the optional AC Adapter EH-62F was used. You can download the firmware updates from the websites below.

Website: Nikon Coolpix S9200 Firmware Update 1.1
Website: Nikon Coolpix S9300 Firmware Update 1.1

Facebook has agreed to acquire Instagram for nearly one billion US dollars in cash and stock. On his own Timeline, Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg wrote that “providing the best photo sharing experience is one reason why so many people love Facebook and we knew it would be worth bringing these two companies together”. Instagram has attracted approximately 27 million users in just 1.5 years, on the iOS platform alone, before launching an Android app a week ago.

Think Tank Photo’s new Strobe Gel Wallet stores flash gels in a neat and organised manner. Launching in May, the Strobe Gel Wallet offers five pockets to store and protect your Rosco Strobist colour filters and includes a tether with clips for secure attachment to bags, backpacks or belts. The clear pockets make filter identification easy. Folding flat when not in use, the Strobe Gel Wallet measures 11.5cm x 6.5cm x 1.5cm, weighs 40 grams, and carries an MSRP of $15.75.

Think Tank Photo’s SD Pixel Pocket Rocket keeps your Secure Digital memory cards safely stored in one place. Available from May, the SD Pixel Pocket Rocket fits up to nine SD/SDHC/SDXC cards in clear pockets that make identification easy. Folding flat when not in use, it can be tethered to bags, clothing, briefcases, and backpacks. The Think Tank Photo SD Pocket Rocket carries a recommended retail price of $15.75.

This May, Think Tank Photo will release two DSLR battery holders. The DSLR Battery Holder 2 ($9.50) and the DSLR Battery Holder 4 ($16.50) secure two or four standard-size camera batteries. These slim, collapsible, compact battery holders compress flat and are easily stored when not in use.

Eizo will showcase advanced 4K LCD display technology at NAB 2012. The Eizo FDH3601 is a 4K x 2K resolution, 36.4-inch LCD monitor with LED backlight, designed for professional applications where image quality is critical. Offering 100% sRGB coverage and an internal 16-bit look-up table, the display can display simultaneous 10-bit colour over the DisplayPort connection. NAB 2012 is taking place from 16th to 19th April. Eizo can be found in booth SL10228.

To celebrate Sony’s sponsorship of the World Photography awards, Sony UK will be hosting a free photography seminar on 18th April. Taking place from 7.30pm – 9.30pm at The Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BE, the seminar features a panel of experts who will share their insights into the intricacies of the art of photography. The panel will include Fiona Shields, Guardian Picture Editor, Elizabeth Roberts, Editor of Black and White Photography and Celia Henderson, a Sony advocate photographer who uses her photographs of the natural world to create contemporary wall art on print, canvas, metal and acrylic.Sony is also giving one lucky photographer the chance to have their photograph displayed at the Sony World Photography Awards 2012 winner’s exhibition at Somerset House. All you have to do is take a picture themed around your interpretation of ‘Now’ and send it to Sony UK via email. Places will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis, so be quick!  Lucky attendees will be notified on Wednesday, 11th April.

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

1st Place
My Own Worse Enemy by phototoad

Prize: X-Rite ColourChecker Passport
Kindly donated by X-Rite
http://www.xritephoto.com/

The winner of a fantastic HP Pavilion G6 laptop featuring AMD Vision Technology is Sudipto Das.

AMD offered you the chance to win a laptop based on its Vision technology which gives PCs more power to speed up applications like photo and video editing.

To enter the competition we asked readers to submit their best photo on the theme of Technology.

We then sent an AMD Vision chip to a shortlist of five readers to use as the subject for a photo for the final stage of the competition.

The Photography Blog editorial team has judged the finalists’ entries and the winner will receive a HP Pavilion G6 laptop featuring AMD Vision Technology.

Samsung is giving 10 lucky Photography Blog readers the chance to win an 8Gb SDHC memory card.

All of the cards in Samsung’s latest memory line-up provide incredible read speeds of 24MB/s and have been designed to meet the growing need for faster data transfer from a mobile device, such as smart phone or digital camera, to a PC.

The premium ‘Plus’ range of SDHC/SD and micro SDHC/SD memory cards have the highest available class 10 speed rating - for advanced data transfer speed and flawless transmission of full HD video – and also boast a class-leading write speed of up to 21MB/s. With data storage capacity of 8GB or 16GB, the cards are perfect for today’s memory-devouring devices and come with a 10 year limited warranty.

To enter the contest, just answer this question

To celebrate it’s sponsorship of the 2012 World Photography Awards Sony is giving 10 lucky Photography Blog readers the chance to win tickets to the winners exhibition that will take place at Somerset House from 27th April - 29th April 2012.

Marking the 5th Anniversary of the Sony World Photography Awards, the beautifully curated winners’ exhibitions will be on show inside the Embankment Galleries at Somerset House on The Strand in London.

In this vast photographic exhibition, visitors will find some of the best contemporary images taken by photographers from across the globe. Mixed media installations will include traditional print, video, moving image and 3D, with subjects spanning all genres, including fine art, fashion, portraiture, sport and photojournalism.

To enter the contest, just answer this question

Alongside the exhibition in Somerset House, World Photo London is returning for its annual weekend of exciting events from 27th – 29th April 2012.

The programme incorporates events for anyone who enjoys photography, whether a culture buff or a practicing enthusiast, including; City Project Workshops, Business of Photography Seminar, Blurb Drop-In Workshops, Critique Sessions and Winners Tours.

For further information about the seminars and workshops available during World Photo London please visit: http://www.worldphoto.org/festivals-and-events/programmes/world-photo-london/events/