Fuji has posted a firmware update for the Fujifilm X100 large-sensor compact camera. Version 1.13 adds compatibility with MacOS X 10.7 and fixes the following bugs:

When VIEW MODE is set to EYE SENSOR activated mode, the camera may be frozen after changing OVF/EVF in certain shooting conditions.
After shooting images in A mode, if the mode dial rotated to another position and returned into A mode during data recording, the shutter of the camera may not work properly.

Website: FinePix X100 Firmware Update Ver.1.13

Ricoh has announced that Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, which was established last October, will assume control of the design, development and distribution of all consumer-oriented imaging products, including all digital cameras. Ricoh’s other business unit, Ricoh Personal Multimedia Product Company - which has hitherto been responsible for the development, manufacture and sales of Ricoh branded cameras -, will now focus on security systems and imaging solutions for the B2B market. The changes will take effect from 1st April.

Nikon has released a firmware update for the Nikon 1 J1 compact system camera. Version 1.11 resolves an issue that sometimes caused images captured using the built-in flash to be over-exposed. You can download the firmware update from the website below,

Website: Nikon 1 J1 Firmware Update A 1.11, B 1.10

Nikon has issued a firmware update for the Nikon 1 V1 compact system camera. Version 1.11 contains fixes for the following bugs:

Images captured using the Speedlight SB-N5 were sometimes over-exposed.
When switching from framing photos in the monitor to using the electronic viewfinder, or vice versa, with focus mode set to MF (manual focus) and the display zoomed in, the camera sometimes did not function properly.

Website: Nikon 1 V1 Firmware Update A 1.11, B 1.10

Manfrotto will showcase a number of photographic products at the Broadcast Video Expo (BVE) 2012 trade show. Among these will be the latest professional video tripod heads - including the Manfrotto 519 Pro Fluid Video Head pictured above -, remotes, LED lighting solutions and a range of dedicated video bags from Kata. The Broadcast Video Expo is taking place from 14-16 February 2012 at Earls Court 2, London.

Swann has unveiled its latest digital video cameras – the HD PenCam and PenCam 4GB. Each device conceals a miniature video camera and DVR inside a real working pen. The HD PenCam ($99.99) is capable of recording high-definition AVI videos (1280x720 pixels) and high-resolution JPEG images on microSD memory cards, while the PenCam 4G ($69.99) shoots VGA movies and 1.2-megapixel stills and saves them in its built-in memory. Both versions switch between video and photo mode with a touch of a button, feature date and time stamping, and are compatible with PCs and Macs.

East London gallery and pro lab theprintspace is calling all photography enthusiasts to join its “World” competition on Facebook. As the official sponsor and print partner of the 2012 Sony World Photography Awards, theprintspace has teamed up with the World Photography Organisation (WPO) to offer the winners of the World Competition exclusive prizes. Interested photographers can upload one image which illustrates their perception of the world. Prizes range from tickets to the Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House, a Premium WPO 12 month membership, professional 20”x24” Dibond mounts and prints, a space in theprintspace’s annual SoShowMe Exhibition to features on theprintspace blog. The submission deadline is 20th February. You can read the rules and enter your work through the website below.

Ricoh has posted a firmware update for the Ricoh CX6 digital compact camera. Version 1.23 fixes a bug that has caused photos to be out of focus with Pre-AF turned on and the ADJ/OK button depressed. The firmware upgrade can be downloaded from the website below.

Website: Ricoh Global

The Sony 500mm f/4 G SSM (SAL500F40G) is a professional grade super-telephoto lens for A-mount SLR and SLT cameras. Billed as the longest fixed-focal-length G lens from Sony to date, the Sony G 500mm f/4 SSM includes 11 elements in 10 groups, including three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements. It’s also the first G lens from Sony to benefit from an advanced new coating process that ensures crisper, clearer images. Exclusive to Sony, the Nano AR Coating process is claimed to cut internal reflections “drastically”. The lens’ SSM (SuperSonic-wave Motor) features a new drive circuit that ensures rapid, responsive AF with significantly faster object tracking than conventional Sony lenses. Four focus hold buttons are spaced around the lens barrel for easy operation in any position. They’re complemented by a two-way DMF (Direct Manual Focus) mode button and focus range switch. Focusing ring and front/rear joints are protected by interlocking seals that ensure a high degree of protection from the elements. Built to order, the SAL500F40G super-telephoto lens from Sony is available in the UK from April 2012.

Want to see exactly what the new Olympus OM-D compact system camera looks like in the flesh?

Ushered into a blacked-out stretch limousine back at the CES show in January, we were wondering exactly what Olympus had in store for us. The surprise was the exciting Olympus OM-D, the company’s new flagship mirrorless camera.

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of 40 photos of the Olympus OM-D camera.

Olympus gave us a detailed presentation of the impressive new Olympus OM-D camera and accessories at a secret CES event.

It includes a look at Olympus’s market share, how the OM-D fits alongside the current PEN range, technical aspects of the OM-D and the new lenses and accessories.

Click through for a gallery of all the slides.

Olympus has announced the development of two new prime lenses for the Micro Four Thirds system. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 is a telemacro lens with a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:1. Housed in a dust- and splashproof body, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro is designed to complement the similarly rugged Olympus OM-D camera (but can, of course, also be mounted to any other Micro Four Thirds body). The M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm f/1.8 (pictured) is an ultra-bright telephoto lens with a full-metal exterior, designed primarily for portraiture, indoor sports and low-light photography. Mock-ups of both lenses will be on display at the CP+ Photo and Camera Imaging Show in Yokohama, Japan from 9-12 February. The prices and precise launch dates will be announced later in the year.

The dust- and splashproof, metal-bodied Olympus OM-D is a retro styled 16.1-megapixel compact system camera featuring a body-integral 5-axis image stabiliser, 1.44-million-dot EVF and best-in-class auto focus with 3D subject tracking. In sequential shooting mode, the camera is capable of capturing up to 9 frames per second (4.2fps with AF, when fitted with the M.Zuiko DIGITAL ED 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 lens). Also called the Olympus E-M5, the OM-D has an eye proximity sensor that allows automatic switching between the EVF and the articulated OLED touchscreen. The camera is capable of recording Full HD videos that benefit from the improved in-body image stabiliser, and can store them in either AVI or MOV format with M.JPEG or MPEG-4 encoding. The Olympus OM-D is available from April 2012 as a kit with the M.Zuiko DIGITAL ED 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 lens for £1149.99. Body only price to be confirmed.

Along with the OM-D camera, Olympus also announced a number of new accessories including the dust- and splashproof MMF-3 four thirds mount adapter, the HLD-6 power battery holder grip (also dust- and splashproof), and the FL-600R flash with a guide number of 36 (in metres at ISO 100/21°), improved recharge time as well as a wireless control option. Two new lenses, the weatherproof M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 macro and the M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm f/1.8, are also under development.

The Voigtländer Nokton 17.5mm f0.95 is an ultra-bright moderate wide-angle lens for Micro Four Thirds. Like its highly regarded stablemate, the Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f0.95, this is a manual-focus lens with an all-metal exterior. The Voigtländer Nokton 17.5mm f0.95 has a 10-bladed iris diaphragm and features an aperture ring with stepless aperture control. The optical formula comprises 13 lens elements arranged in 9 groups, including aspherical and ultra-high-refractive-index glass elements. Available from March, the Voigtländer Nokton 17.5mm f0.95 has a close-focus point of 15cm, and carries an MSRP of ¥ 118,000 in Japan.

Source: Cosina Voigtländer

The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS is a new travelzoom camera with a 16-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, a 25-600mm equivalent zoom lens, touch-sensitive screen, high-speed AF and Multi-Recording functionality. Equipped with two separate TruePic V image processors, originally developed for DSLR cameras, the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS is capable of simultaneously capturing Full HD movies and full-resolution stills. Its new iHS (intelligent, High-Sensitivity and High-Speed) technology is claimed to “dramatically improve” low-light performance, speed up camera response time, and enhance scene and subject recognition. “Combined with High-Speed Sequential Shooting (10fps) and high-speed autofocus, iHS reduces picture noise and enhances resolution and colour gradation,” the company says. The camera‘s touch-sensitive, 3.0-inch 920,000-dot LCD screen allows users to change the active AF point, shutter speed and zoom, or navigate the Live Guide controls by touch. Other highlights include a hand-held starlight mode and a dozen “Magic Art Filters”. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS will be available in silver and black, priced at $399.99/£299.99.

The Olympus TG-820 iHS is a new water-, shock-, freeze- and dustproof compact camera with a 12-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, a 28-140mm equivalent zoom lens and a 3-inch, 1,030,000-dot HyperCrystal III LCD screen with scratch-resistant, anti-reflective coatings. Olympus’ iHS technology builds on the speed of the camera’s back-illuminated CMOS imager and TruePic VI image processor to “dramatically improve” low-light performance, speed up camera response time and auto focus, plus enhance scene and subject recognition. HDR Backlight Adjustment takes a collage of separate photos and blends them into one perfectly exposed image regardless of difficult lighting. Other highlights include Full HD video recording with Multi-Motion Movie IS, an enhanced iAuto shooting mode and an on-board HDMI connector. The Olympus Tough TG-820 iHS will be available in a variety of colours at an estimated street price of $299.99/£269.99.

The Olympus SH-25MR is a 16-megapixel touchscreen camera with a 24-300mm equivalent lens, integrated GPS module and compass, and Multi-Recording technology on board. The 3-inch rear screen boasts a resolution of 460,000 dots, and offers a range of touch-based functions like Touch AF and Touch Shutter. Other standout features include HDR Backlight Adjustment, 3D Photo Shooting, Smart Panorama, Advanced Shadow Adjustment Technology and a Handheld Starlight Mode. In addition to capturing 16-megapixel photos at up to 10 frames per second (or 3-megapixel stills at up to 60fps), the Olympus SH-25MR is also capable of recording Full HD videos with Multi-Motion Movie IS. Available in gold, black, red and white, the SH-25MR hits the shops in April, priced at €269.00/£229.99.

Sigma has renamed its flagship digital SLR camera to Sigma SD1 Merrill, in honour of Foveon’s founding father, Richard B. Merrill. The rebranding was initiated by Sigma’s new CEO, Kazuto Yamaki, who wrote “a personal letter to the company’s loyal customers” announcing the name change and a reduction of the camera’s MSRP to $3,300. Given the typically huge difference between Sigma’s suggested retail prices and the actual retail pricing of their products, this means you can realistically expect to be able to purchase the Sigma SD1 Merrill for about $2,300 - which is a massive price drop considering that the camera used to sell for about $6,900.

Sigma has updated its large-sensor compact cameras, the Sigma DP1 and the Sigma DP2, to incorporate the high-resolution sensor found in the Sigma SD1. This imaging chip features over 15.3 million sensor photosites with stacked red, green and blue filters (as opposed to a typical 16-megapixel Bayer sensor that has 8 million green-, 4 million red- and 4 million blue-sensitive pixels) for superior colour reproduction and resolution. In addition, the new versions boast totally redesigned lenses - a 19mm f/2.8 lens for the Sigma DP1 Merrill and a 30mm f/2.8 for the Sigma DP2 Merrill - with moulded-glass aspherical elements, “F” Low Dispersion and Super Multi Layer coating, and a telecentric optical design. The new generation name “Merrill” is a tribute to Foveon’s co-founder, the late Richard B. Merrill, who developed the original Foveon X3 Direct Image Sensor. Pricing to be confirmed.