X-Rite has announced the September theme for its Colour Perfectionists Unite Photo Contest. To enter, submit a photograph that represents the “Back to School” theme, follow @xritephoto on Twitter and “like” X-Rite Photo on Facebook, then invite friends and family to vote for your image. The top 20 photos with the most votes each month will be entered in the final round.  The finalist images will be featured in a monthly gallery on Facebook and added to the Colour Perfectionists group on Flickr. Finally, an X-Rite Coloratti will judge the 20 finalists to determine the winner of the best photograph that illustrates the theme of the month. Prizes to be won include a ColorChecker Passport (pictured) and an i1Display Pro.

Sigma has released a firmware update for the Sigma SD15 digital SLR camera. Version 1.02 adds an option to save images in both raw and JPEG format simultaneously, improves flash output control and the accuracy of (evaluative) exposure metering, and corrects various bugs. You can download the firmware update from the website below.

Website: Sigma

On 1 December 2011, Hasselblad will release a firmware update for the Hasselblad H4D-40 and H4D-50 medium-format DSLR cameras, which will enable them to provide many of the features of the newer Hasselblad H4D-60. The new features include one-click focus check, a bi-directional spirit level, quick access to a new rear info screen, a live video view mode via Phocus when working with the camera connected to a computer, and support for electronically controlled Schneider and Rollei shutters. Interested readers can get more information and a sneak peek at the additional features at the website below.

Pentax USA has just announced a price reduction on the Pentax K-5 semi-professional digital SLR camera. The MSRP of the K-5 has dropped $100 to $1499.95 (body only) and to $1,649.95 (for the K-5 lens kit with DA 18-55 WR lens). In addition to this (permanent) price reduction, from now until 30th November, a $300 instant rebate is in effect on any qualifying purchase of either kit configuration.

Review: Read our in-depth review of the Pentax K-5

Apple has posted a Camera RAW compatibility update, adding system-level support for raw files produced by a number of new (and not-so-new) digital cameras. The newly supported models include the old Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200 as well as the new Olympus E-P3, Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G3, Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF3, Samsung NX11, Samsung NX100, Sony NEX-C3 (pictured) and Sony Alpha SLT-A35. To view the full list of currently supported digital cameras, visit the website below.

Website: Apple Mac OS X Lion: Supported digital camera raw formats

LPA Design, the company behind the PocketWizard brand, has issued a major firmware update for both Nikon and Canon versions of its MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 radios. Available now, version 3.0 for Nikon and Version 6.0 for Canon include several new features and updates including HyperSync Automation, SpeedCycler and flash power control without a camera. “We’re excited about these new features for the ControlTL system and the creative potential they represent for photographers,” said Dave Schmidt, Vice President of Marketing at LPA Design. “Firmware upgrades such as this are a benefit for photographers who invest in PocketWizard radios. HyperSync Automation will be a game changer in that it opens up the amazing capability to use blazing fast sync speeds with flash units – creating amazing potential in sports or portrait applications.”

Photography Blog and Cyberlink are giving away FIVE copies of Cyberlink PhotoDirector 2011, each worth £79.99!

CyberLink’s PhotoDirector 2011 is designed to smooth the flow from the time an image is imported to the PC to its final output by delivering powerful management and editing tools.

PhotoDirector 2011 features a wide array of dynamic adjustment tools that can be applied in a non-destructive editing environment, leaving your original images unaltered. Offering native rendering of RAW files from Canon and Nikon cameras provides photographers with a great feature to maintain the immaculate quality of each image. PhotoDirector 2011 is also the first photo software that lets users easily share their own presets and download an unlimited number of presets defined by others, directly from the application, through CyberLink’s online community DirectorZone.com.

The 5 winners are: James Golden, Michael Flowdy, David Lonsdale, Kurt Skeels and Paul Rose

The contest closed at 11.55PM GMT on Wednesday 31st August 2011.

The winners of the August 2011 Photography Blog Competition have been announced. The theme for July was “Street Portrait” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery. Here are the 5 winners:

1st Place
Out in the Cold by mortong

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

Want to see what the new Pentax Q compact system camera looks like in the flesh?

Here’s a gallery of hands-on photos of the Pentax Q, the world’s smallest and lightest interchangeable lens camera, together with the 47mm prime lens.

Want to see what the new Samsung NX200 looks like in the flesh?

Here’s a gallery of hands-on photos of the Samsung NX200 compact system camera, together with the 16mm pancake, 18-55mm, 18-200mm, 60mm, and 85mm lenses.

Want to see what the new Samsung MV800 looks like in the flesh?

Here’s a gallery of hands-on photos of the innovative Samsung MV800 multi-view compact camera.

Want to see what the new Samsung WB750 looks like in the flesh?

Here’s a gallery of hands-on photos of the Samsung WB750 travel-zoom compact camera.

The Samsung NX200 is a new compact system camera that delivers professional standard photography. The NX200 features a 20.3 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, high speed capture (including 100ms Advanced Auto Focus), wide range ISO (100-12800), HD movie recording, and Samsung’s unique i-Function lens. Samsung have also unveiled four new lenses, which are the 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 ED OIS superzoom, 16mm F2.4 pancake, 60mm F2.8 Macro ED OIS SSA, and 85mm F1.4 ED SSA portrait lens.

The Samsung NX200 will cost £699 in a kit with the 18-55mm lens or the 20-50mm lens (there’s no body only option), and will be available in September. The 16mm pancake will cost £299, available imminently, and the 18-200mm retails for £699 and is available now. The 85mm and 60mm lenses will be released in October, pricing to be announced.

The Samsung MultiView MV800 is a unique digital camera with a flip-out touchscreen display. The MV800’s 3 inch Wide Flip-out MultiView Touch Display captures the perfect self-portrait or extreme low and high angled shots. The MV800 also offers 16.1 megapixels, a 5x optical zoom lens with 26mm wide-angle setting, 720p movies, and the innovative Storyboard Maker. The Samsung MV800 will be available in mid-September for £249.

The Samsung WB750 is a new travel-zoom digital camera. Boasting the company’s latest BSI (Back Side Illuminated) CMOS sensor, the 12.5 megapixel WB750 features an 18x optical zoom, 24x smart-zoom and 24mm ultra wide angle lens, 10fps burst shooting, and 1080p video recording. The Samsung WB750 will be available in September for £249.

The Fujifilm X10 is a 12-megapixel compact with manual controls, a larger-than-average, 2/3” type EXR CMOS sensor, a 28-112mm (eq.) f/2.0-2.8 lens and a newly developed Optical Image Stabilisation mechanism. Resurrecting the 2/3” sensor size that was commonly found in bridge cameras until the middle of the past decade, the Fujfilm X10 features a sensitivity range of ISO 100 to ISO 5000, expandable to ISO 12800 at reduced resolution. The new sensor also offers all the usual EXR shooting modes that allow the user to give priority to signal-to-noise ratio, dynamic range or resolution depending on the individual requirements of each shot. The newly developed 4x manual zoom lens comprises 11 elements (including 3 aspherical and 2 extra-low-dispersion elements) in 9 groups and benefits from a Super Electron Beam Coating that is claimed to reduce flare and ghosts. The maximum aperture is f/2 at the wide end of the zoom range and f/2.8 at full telephoto, while the available minimum aperture is f11 throughout. Raw image capture, a full range of manual controls, 4 different auto bracketing functions, 8 film simulation modes, a 360° Motion Panorama mode, electronic level gauge and 1080p Full HD video recording round off the features list. The Fuji X10 also boasts a hot-shoe, an integrated manual pop-up flash, an optical viewfinder and a 2.8” rear monitor with a resolution of 460,000 dots.

The Fujifilm X10 will be available in early November 2011, with pricing to be confirmed.

Olympus has officially launched the much-anticipated TCON-17X 1.7x teleconverter and CLA-12 adapter ring for the Olympus XZ-1 premium compact camera. Featuring a 28-112mm (eq.) f/1.8-2.5 lens and a 10-megapixel, 1/1.63” sensor, the Olympus XZ-1 is an award-winning “prosumer” digicam that has received many accolades since its launch earlier this year. The new TCON-17X add-on tele-conversion lens lets you get 1.7 times closer with a 1:2.5 f-number, meaning that with the lens set to maximum telephoto, you get a 35mm equivalent reach of 190mm without any loss of brightness. The TCON-17X teleconverter is available for £149.99 and the (required) CLA-12 adapter for £39.99. In addition to making it possible to mount the TCON-17X, the CLA-12 also allows users to attach a 55mm filter.

Review: Read our in-depth review of the Olympus XZ-1

Topaz Labs have just released Topaz B&W Effects, their new black and white enhancement plug-in for a variety of photo editors. “In addition to the common conversion tools, B&W Effects is packed with specialised exposure and contrast control, realistic toning ability, stylised effects and so much more. Categorised into traditional and alternative processes such as Cyanotype and Albumen, B&W Effects also includes a variety of presets that offer a fun and simple way to create impressive imagery,” said Nichole Paschal, senior marketing specialist for Topaz Labs. Compatible with Windows XP or later and Intel-based Macs running OS X 10.5 or later, Topaz B&W Effects is a plug-in that works with Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Aperture, iPhoto, Lightroom and PaintShop Pro. It retails for $59.99, but is being offered at a special introductory price of $29.99 until 18 September 2011.

Blurb has announced the grand prize winner of this year’s Photography Book Now competition. The $25,000 prize goes to Valerio Spada, a professional photographer from Milan, Italy, for his book, “Gomorrah Girl.” Spada’s work, the story of adolescence, choices and chance in the land of the Camorrah (the name of the Mafia in Naples), was chosen by an international panel of judges, from more than 2,300 submissions. The photographer will be honoured along with 12 other category winners on 15th September at the Aperture Gallery in New York City.

Website: Valerio Spada