Nikon has launched the my Picturetown Pad app for the Apple iPad. The free app allows users to enjoy using my Picturetown, Nikon’s online image sharing and storage service, with their iPads and iPhones. In addition to supporting playback of data recorded using the Motion Snapshot function, my Picturetown Pad also supports book view and a map view that utilises information recorded with cameras equipped with a GPS function. Nikon’s my Picturetown Pad application can be downloaded now from iTunes.

Ricoh has posted the fifth function-enhancing firmware update for the GR Digital III. In addtion to fixing bugs, version 2.50 of the camera firmware adds new options for ISO [Auto-Hi], a Contrast Bracketing feature, a new ADJ. Lever Setting option, a Vignetting filter for the High-contrast B&W scene mode, and a power button lock function for users of the optional GL-1 metal lens cap. You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: Ricoh GR DIGITAL III Firmware Update

Adva-Soft has released version 3.0 of its TouchRetouch app for Android devices. ToucRetouch allows users to remove objects from freshly captured or saved photographs easily, without affecting any other elements of the picture. The new version features a new user interface, a high-performance retouching algorithm, support for full-resolution images, a clone stamp for advanced retouching, and more. TouchRetouch is available for purchase on the Android Market.

Lytro has officially announced its first consumer light field camera, which captures all the rays of light in a scene, opening up new possibilities such as the ability to focus a picture after it’s taken. The Lytro camera features a light field sensor and a light field engine that allows photographers to refocus pictures in-camera. Sporting an f/2 lens with 8x optical zoom, the pocket-sized Lytro camera weighs in at less than 8 ounces. Other highlights include instant start-up and zero shutter lag. The Lytro camera comes with either 8GB or 16GB of on-board memory, storing 350 and 750 “HD quality” pictures respectively. What the company means by “HD quality” isn’t clear but we expect that the resolution will be sufficient for on-screen viewing and probably insufficient for printing. The 8GB version can be yours for $399, while the 16GB model will set you back $499. The Lytro camera can be pre-ordered now via the website below - which also has a nice picture gallery demonstrating how post-capture focusing works -, but will only start shipping “in early 2012”, according to the company.

Ubyu is a new photo book publishing service that has been tailored specifically to meet the needs and demands of the creative industry. “Aimed at keen photographers and a creative audience, ubyu was an idea born out of asking about and listening to, the needs and demands of this specific target market and what they wanted to be able to do and achieve when they create their own books,” says Josie Price of Ubyu Books. Book content can be imported via the custom-made ‘uDesign’ software, available to download free from the Ubyu website. Alternatively, for those who want even more control over the self-publishing process, PDF files can be created from a variety of InDesign templates provided by Ubyu and uploaded straight to the website via the preflight server. Self publishing prices vary depending on individual customisation choices but prices start at £11.90 plus p&p for a single book with the minimum of 28 pages.

Warehouse Express is currently running a promotion on the new Nikon 1 system cameras. Those who pre-order either the Nikon 1 J1 or the Nikon 1 V1 today will receive a free accessory kit worth £150. The accessory kit includes a 4-gigabyte SDHC memory card, a lens cloth, a Nikon 1 training voucher, a Joby Gorillapod, an HDMI cable and a Nikon T-shirt. Don’t forget that in order to be eligible, you need to order the cameras before the end of the day, via the website below.

Leica has announced a special edition of the D-Lux 5 digital compact camera: the Leica D-Lux 5 Titanium. Featuring the same technical specifications as the regular model - including a 24-90mm equivalent zoom lens and a 1/1.63” sensor with a resolution of 10.1 megapixels - the Leica D-Lux 5 Titanium boasts an anodised silver-grey finish, and comes presented in a special set with a premium grey leather case with shoulder strap. An Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 licence is also part of the package, with the software itself being supplied via Web download. The Leica D-Lux 5 Titanium special edition set is scheduled to be available in the UK at the end of October 2011 at an SRP of £855 including VAT from authorised Leica dealers.

As part of its worldwide “Imagine More” campaign, Manfrotto has launched the Imagine More Factory Roadshow. The Imagine More Factory is described by Manfrotto as “a unique place where anyone is invited to test his talent by personally experiencing the emotion of photographing – and being photographed – on professional photography sets”. The roadshow involves an interactive “Photo Lab” being set up in a number of temporary locations including Berlin, Hong Kong, London, Rome, Paris, Tokyo and New York. In this “Photo Lab”, you’ll find a team of professional photographers who will guide you and your friends through amusing photo sets, and provide you with an opportunity to try the newest Manfrotto products. The next Imagine More Factory roadshow locations are Berlin (21-23rd October), Hong Kong (5-6th November) and Covent Garden, London (18-20th November).

Olympus has announced that the most talented members of its PEN Flickr group will get a chance to have their best work featured on the Olympus website as well as in upcoming PEN adverts. Alongside international recognition, there’s also a financial reward for members whose pictures are chosen for the campaign. For example, generous credits for the Olympus online shop where they can choose from the complete Olympus product line-up, including the growing range of Micro Four Thirds lenses and PEN accessories. Or one of three new PEN cameras: the flagship PEN E-P3, the PEN Lite (pictured) or the PEN Mini. You can join the Olympus PEN Flickr group at the website below.

Jessops has teamed up with The Mob Film Company to launch a short film competition. Using nothing but a digital camera’s movie function, participants must produce a ten-minute film entitled, “The Shot”. The competition, which runs until early next year, is open to everyone in the UK and offers one lucky winner an all-expenses paid trip to spend the day with Paul WS Anderson on the set of his latest movie. In addition, the winner will also receive a £5000 camera package, courtesy of Nikon. Full competition rules and submission instructions can be found on Jessops’ Facebook page.

The 2012 Fujifilm Student Photography Awards are now open and accepting entries. The Awards are open to all students aged 16 or over undertaking full or part-time professional photographic training, or full or part-time graphic design training of which photography is a major part at a UK based college or university. The theme for 2012 is ‘Extreme’ with students being briefed to capture the meaning of that word in a single image. As in previous years, all images must be originated on Fujifilm film stock, then scanned and submitted via the website below.

An exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the Nikon 1 Factory in China.

Annaloa Hilmarsdottir, Alan Thomas, Tom Truong, Fadhul Ramadhan and Ketlan Ossowski have all won a copy of Fluid Mask 3.2, courtesy of Download Buyer.

Fluid Mask 3.2 is a still-image masking tool that works as both a standalone application and a plug-in to Adobe’s Photoshop or Elements. The Visual Image Segmentation lets you see exactly how your image is made up of segments of similar properties, enabling you to create super-fine mask selections with ease. The Targeted Edge Detection and Blending lets you isolate difficult areas and apply alternative selections, whilst the intelligent blending gets the closest to extracting the true character of the image.

The onscreen help and guidance make Fluid Mask 3.2 quick and easy to use. The stored workspace setting allows you to tailor the default settings to your needs and process complete studio runs effortlessly. Fluid Mask 3.2 is ideal for photographers, image editors, graphic designers or for those who are interested in digital image editing. One of the fastest masking tools available today, Fluid Mask 3.2 is as easy as ‘see, click, cut’!

This contest is now closed.

The Canon EOS-1D X is a new professional digital SLR camera with a full-frame 18-megapixel sensor, a continuous shooting speed of 14 frames per second (12fps with AF) and a new 61-point AF system. Also featuring dual DIGIC 5+ image processors and 14-bit analogue-to-digital signal conversion, the Canon EOS-1D X offers a sensitivity range of ISO 100-51,200, expandable to ISO 204,800. The new 61-point AF module boasts Intelligent Tracking and Recognition, an expanded AF coverage area, superior focusing precision and low light sensitivity, and greater low-contrast subject detection capability compared to earlier EOS AF systems. The Canon EOS-1D X digital SLR camera is scheduled for March 2012 availability and will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated retail price of $6,800.

Canon Europe has posted a detailed, 12-page explanatory article on the new Canon EOS-1D X digital SLR camera. Available on the Canon Professional Network website, the article explains the technical aspects of the new camera in great detail. The professional-grade Canon EOS-1D X will be available in March 2012 at an estimated retail price of $6,800.

Canon has announced the achievement of two milestones: the company has recently manufactured its 50 millionth EOS-series SLR camera, and expects to produce the 70 millionth EF lens by the end of this month. The first-ever Canon EOS camera, the EOS 650, was launched in March 1987. By the 10th anniversary of the series in 1997, the number of EOS cameras sold had reached the 10 million mark. Production propelled to 20 million units in 2003, and by the 20th anniversary they had reached the 30 million mark, due to the continued popularity of the EOS system in the digital age. The 40 millionth EOS camera was manufactured in May 2010, while the current 50 million-unit production milestone was achieved in September 2011.

According to Nikon, the total production of Nikkor interchangeable lenses for Nikon SLR cameras reached sixty-five million at the beginning of this month. The first Nikon SLR camera, the professional-grade Nikon F, was launched in 1959 along with the very first F-mount Nikkors such as the Nikkor-S Auto 5cm f/2. In March 2011, total production of Nikkor lenses reached sixty million. Since then, Nikon has continued to expand the product lineup by releasing two new SLR lenses, the AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G (read review) and the AF-S DX Micro-Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G.