Leica are set to announce a range of new products on May 10th. In an invitation published online by Steve Huff, “a whole range of product launches” will be unveiled at an event held in Berlin, Germany. With the initials of the date May 10th forming M10, we’d anticipate the announcement of the successor to the 3 year old M9 (pictured), and maybe even the widely rumoured Leica compact system camera.

Apple have released an update for Aperture 3 and iPhoto ‘11. This update adds RAW image compatibility for the following cameras:

- Canon PowerShot G1 X
- Nikon D4
- Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GX1
- Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ35
- Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ38
- Samsung NX200
- Sony Alpha NEX-7
- Sony NEX-VG20

Download the Apple Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 3.10

Rioch have released a major firmware update for the GXR system. Version 1.50 includes the firmware for the following GXR modules:

- GXR body
- GR LENS A12 28mm F2.5
- GR LENS A12 50mm F2.5 MACRO
- GXR MOUNT A12
- RICOH LENS S10 24-72 mm F2.5-4.4 VC
- RICOH LENS P10 28-300 mm F3.5-5.6 VC

New features include 1 EV or 1/3 EV ISO settings, ISO bracketing, interval shooting, RAW only mode, and Bulb / Time shutter speed settings.

Download the Ricoh GXR 1.50 Firmware

National Geographic Student Expeditions, the student travel programme for the National Geographic Society, has launched a student photography competition. Open to US students in grades 9-12, the National Geographic Student Expeditions Photo Contest runs until 31 March, and winners will be selected by 16 April 2012.  The grand prize for the student photo contest is a spot on the London Photography Workshop this summer.  Second and third place prizes are $250 and $100 gift cards, respectively, to the National Geographic Store. For more information and to enter, visit the website below.

Website: National Geographic Student Expeditions Photo Contest

Tunaverse Media has just launched its new photo sharing social network called Blinq. Using web linking technology combined with proprietary “just enough, just in time” image delivery software, Blinq makes remotely stored media appear to reside on the user’s local device. By adding remote control capability Blinq enables users to do whatever they want with those remotely stored photos from anywhere. Because upload time is eliminated, sharing albums of any size, even remotely stored albums, is instantaneous, the company claims. To download Blinq and start sharing your photos, visit the website below.

Toshiba today announced that it will launch a new line of high-performance SDXC and SDHC memory cards under a new brand name, Exceria. Bringing together “excellence” and “experience”, the Exceria brand offers cards compliant with the SD Memory Card Standard Ver.3.0 UHS-I, and includes versions offering the world-fastest class data transfer speed. Products will be launched in three series, Exceria Type 1, Type 2 and Type HD, each offering three versions with different capacities. The Type 1 series products integrate new controllers that realise a maximum read speed of 95MB/s and a write speed of 90MB/s. Type 2 series products offer a maximum read speed of 95MB/s and a write speed of 60MB/s, while Type HD products have a maximum read speed of 90 MB/s and a write speed of 30 MB/s.

In June 2012, a wide range of London’s most celebrated venues will play host to a world-class, city-wide celebration of photography, as the London Festival of Photography returns for its second year. Encompassing documentary, street and conceptual photography, the festival will comprise 18 exhibitions and 40 events, including workshops, talks and screenings. Exhibitions will vary in style and theme, as the organisers are looking to present a comprehensive programme of photographic disciplines showcasing work from both established and emerging photographers. The festival exhibitions will be focused around the King’s Cross, Bloomsbury & Fitzrovia areas, in venues including the British Library, Guardian Gallery, British Museum, Museum of London, V&A and Tate Modern among others.

DxO Labs have just released DxO FilmPack v3.2.1 for Mac and Windows. This update brings adds compatibility with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4, allowing Lightroom 4 users to apply the aesthetic signatures of more than 60 film styles, or any of the 25 creative renderings (in the Expert Edition) to their digital photo libraries. DxO FilmPack v3.2.1 runs in both 32 and 64 bits as standalone software. As a plugin, it is now fully compatible with DxO Optics Pro 6 & 7 (32 bits), Photoshop CS3 (32 bits), CS 4 & CS 5 (32 and 64 bits), Lightoom 3 & 4 (32 and 64 bits), Photoshop Elements 9 & 10 (32 bits) and Apple Aperture (32 and 64 bits).

Photodex has updated ProShow Web, its online tool that lets people easily mix photos, video clips and music together into polished video slideshows. Highlights include new 3D tilt effects and themes, an automatic energy level which ensures that photos and music end at the same time, Flickr and Instagram integration, improved music categorisation and a new way of handling a user’s effects.

New consumer data recently released by online purchase agent Sortable shows that 22 percent of potential camera buyers are interested in compact system cameras (CSCs). The study, which surveyed more than 275,000 people over a 6-month period, also found that the rest are split between point-and-shoot cameras and DSLRs with 36 percent looking for each type of camera (the remaining 6% make up the “Other” category). In terms of brand preference, Canon leads the pack with 33%, followed by Nikon (26%), Sony (15%), Panasonic (7%), Fujifilm (5%), Olympus (4%) and Pentax (3%).

For the past six years, photographer Katherine Green has been documenting the 1948 British Olympic Team. Her images and oral histories are presented for the first time in a UK touring exhibition. 1948 Olympians is due to be on display at 20-­?21 Visual Arts Centre from 10 March to 16 June. The exhibition will then tour to The Hat Factory Luton, Rugby Museum & Art Gallery and then The North Light, HuddersCield until August 2012. Click through / scroll down for the exact dates and addresses.

Satechi has released its new Camera Mount and Holder for SLRs, compacts, pocket camcorders and video cameras. The small and durable Satechi Camera Mount and Holder features an adhesive SmartPad and allows for stronger mounting on flat surfaces including car windshields and dashboards. Additionally, the mount can be adjusted to accommodate the angle and height of the DSLR or point-and-shoot camera. The Satechi SCH-22 Camera Mount and Holder is available now for $27.99 at Satechi.net and Amazon.

Rocky Nook is releasing a second, revised edition of Mike Hagen’s book, The Nikon Creative Lighting System. Updated to include information on the new Nikon SB-700 and SB-910 flash guns, this guide teaches all the steps required to achieve consistent and satisfying flash photos. Also included is a chapter showing system configuration so readers can duplicate the desired results on their own. The Nikon Creative Lighting System can be preordered for $39.95 at the website below.

The Sony A57 is a new digital system camera with a 16-megapixel sensor, semitransparent mirror, high-resolution electronic viewfinder and continuous shooting speeds of up to 12 frames per second. Successor to the Sony A55, the new SLT-A57 is an attractively priced A-mount camera that shares the ergonomics and many of the premium features found on the enthusiast-focused Sony SLT-A65. The 15-point AF system with 3 cross sensors ensures fast TTL phase-detection autofocus. Newly-enhanced Object Tracking AF keeps faces or other selected objects in sharp focus – even if your target’s obscured momentarily by another passing object. Sony is also touting the new Auto Portrait Framing feature of the SLT-A57: Using face detection and the rule of thirds, the camera identifies your subject’s position, trimming the scene to create tightly-framed pictures in portrait or landscape orientation. Also capable of recording Full HD 50p video, the Sony A57 will be available in April for $700.

Rocky Nook’s newest title, Mastering the Fuji X100 by Michael Diechtierow, is now available in the United Kingdom. Released to the US market less than a month ago, this book guides readers through the features and capabilities of the Fujifilm X100, teaching readers about optimising focus, influencing dynamic range, which film simulation is best, and much more. The 192-page volume is available in the UK for £22.99.

The Hüfa Lens Cap Holder is now available in the UK through JP Distribution. Realising that photographers often run into the problem of not knowing what to do with their lens caps when they are not on the lens, International Camera Accessories have created the Hüfa Lens Cap Clip to keep the cap close to the DSLR camera lens and within reach of the user at all times. Made of durable plastic, the Hüfa Lens Cap Clip fits most camera bags and all types of DSLR neck strap. The UK retail price is £9.99.

Starting Your Career as a Photo Stylist is a new title from Allworth Press. This guide, written by Susan Linnet Cox, provides readers with in-depth information on fashion styling, food styling, and six other areas of specialisation. Interviews with seasoned professionals offer personal insights into what it takes to thrive in the industry, and the accompanying business forms will help stylists get a head start on building their businesses. The 256-page paperback will be available from April, priced at $19.95.