Panasonic has released a firmware update for the Lumix DMC-FH22 (also known as the DMC-FS33) digital compact camera. Version 1.2 is a minor upgrade bringing an “improvement of the menu indication” according to Panasonic.

Website Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH22/FS33 Firmware Update Service

The Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II is a compact and affordable telephoto lens. Canon’s four-stop Image Stabilizer (IS) counters image blur during low light and handheld shooting, and the inclusion of an Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) lens element and Canon’s Super Spectra Coatings also ensure beautifully crisp, high contrast and glare-free images. The EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II will be available separately and also as part of a double lens kit, bundled alongside the recently-announced EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II with EOS 550D, EOS 600D and EOS 60D bodies. The EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II will be available from July 2011, priced at £329.99/€369.99 RRP incl. VAT.

A hands-on preview of the new Panasonic GF3 compact system camera, accompanied by a gallery of images.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 is the smallest and lightest Lumix G Micro System camera to date. Featuring a FourThirds sized 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor, a Micro Four Thirds lens mount, a pop-up flash and a 3” touch-sensitive rear screen with a resolution of 460,000 dots; the new Panasonic GF3 is capable of capturing full-resolution photos at up to 4 frames per second. Its speedy operation is further enhanced by an extremely fast contrast-detect auto-focus system that can lock on a subject in approximately 0.1-0.18 second depending on the lens attached. Users can choose from a wide range of AF modes – including Pinpoint AF which allows very precise, near–pixel?level focus point specification at the touch of a finger. In addition to capturing stills, the Panasonic Lumix GF3 can also be used to shoot 1080i HD movies with Dolby sound, full-time AF and AF tracking. A dedicated button on the top lets you instantly start recording movies a whenever you see something worthy of being filmed..The Panasonic GF3 will be available in a kit with the 14mm f/2.5 pancake lens for £549.99 / $699.95.

Panasonic has just announced the Leica DG Summilux 25mm f/1.4 ASPH, a fast standard lens for the Micro Four Thirds system. Comprising 9 elements arranged in 7 groups (including 2 aspherical elements and 1 ultra-high-refractive-index lens element), the Leica DG Summilux 25mm f1.4 ASPH features Nano Surface Coating to minimise ghosting and flare, and an iris diaphragm with seven rounded aperture blades for pleasing bokeh. The lens weighs in at approximately 200 grams and takes small, 46mm filters. With its maximum aperture of f/1.4, the Leica DG Summilux 25mm f1.4 ASPH is currently the fastest auto-focus lens with a native Micro Four Thirds mount.

The Reflecta ProScan 7200 is a new super-fast CCD scanner. The ProScan 7200 scans slides and negatives with optical resolutions as high as 3600 dpi, and optical density of 3.8 Dmax, in just 1 minute 35 seconds for a colour scan with 3600 dpi and 48 bit colour depth. The scanner comes supplied with holders for four mounted 35mm slides up to 3.2mm thick and film strips up to six exposures. The unit also comes with Photoshop Elements and Reflecta’s in-house scanning software, Cyberview X. The ProScan 7200 is available now with an RRP of £449.99.

Leaf Raw Converter 1.2.6 adds support for Leaf Aptus-II 12, Leaf Aptus-II 12R, Leaf Aptus-II 12 for AFI/HY6 and continues to support files from all of Leaf’s older models. The Leaf Raw Converter enables you to convert the non-standard files created when shooting images to Compact Flash card on Leaf back to a standard Leaf format which can be read by other applications such as the Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw plug-in. The Leaf Raw Converter supports both Macintosh® and Windows® operating systems, including Windows 7 32 and 64 bit.

G-Technology have launched the Driven Creativity Competition 2011. Winners and runners-up will be awarded stylish G-Technology hard drives and the overall winner will receive €5,000. To enter, simply upload a photo with a brief description. Using an online peer voting system, a shortlist of 15 professional and amateur finalists will be compiled before being judged by a panel of creative experts

Escalate LIVE “Be Boutique” is a new techniques film featuring five presentations by successful, respected professional photographers, a lively panel discussion lead by Dane Sanders and intimate tours of two thriving studios. Escalate LIVE “Be Boutique” is designed to help portrait photographers center their value and brand on their distinctive talents and signature style. The DVD series can be ordered today, or downloaded, for $99.

Metz has announced a software update for the mecablitz 58 AF-1 digital and 48 AF-1 digital flash models. The update, which can be downloaded from the Metz Germany website and installed via the units’ integrated USB interface, adds a function previously only available on the 48 AF-2 digital and 58 AF-2 digital flashguns. To wit, it enables the older units. to be used as an additional creative light source in a room, with a camera without a master function. In addition to the increased functionality for the 58 AF-1 digital and 48 AF-1 digital flash devices, a further software update has been made available for all Metz system flash devices equipped with a USB interface. This update adds compatibility with the Canon EOS 600D digital SLR camera

Raven-App has released Eye-Share for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users. The app makes it easy for users to import, store, transfer, organise, personalise and share photos and videos, individually, in specially created albums, or as slideshows with music. Eye-Share is free and available now on iTunes.

Sigma has released Sigma Photo Pro 5, the latest version of its proprietary raw developer and photo viewer/editor for Mac OS and Windows. Version 5 adds support for raw image files produced by the Sigma SD1 digital SLR camera, and comes with a new user interface that offers more convenient operation. Sigma SD and DP series digital camera owners can download the software from the website below.

Website: Sigma Photo Pro

Fujifilm has just announced a television special feature entitled ‘Standing Up, Moving Forward’, which introduces the efforts of all the people involved in relief and reconstruction activities in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake. The special feature is being broadcast from June 10-12 by Japan International Broadcasting. UK viewers can see the ‘Standing up, Moving Forward’ programmes on NHK (SKY channel 518) today, tomorrow and on Sunday at the times listed in the announcement below.

The Big Issue in the North Trust is inviting photography enthusiasts living in Liverpool and Manchester to take part in its Photo Marathon challenge. Photographers will have eight hours to take eight photographs, on two sets of four topics that are being kept secret until the day of the marathon, Saturday 2 July in Manchester and Saturday 16 July in Liverpool. Entrants are being asked to make a donation of £15 to The Big Issue in the North Trust to enter the marathon. Prizes include a two day photography workshop courtesy of Manchester Academy of Photography, alongside theatre tickets, art prints and more.

Joby has released new versions of the hands-free positioning and camera optimizing case & stands: GorillaMobile Ori and GorillaMobile Yogi for iPad 2. Drawing its inspiration from the folding art of origami, the GorillaMobile Ori (£56.99) is engineered from a superlight German-made aluminium/polypropylene composite which allows the GorillaMobile Ori to be folded into countless positions. The GorillaMobile Yogi (£35.99, pictured) has been designed to stabilise the device on uneven surfaces. The quick-release clip easily detaches the modular legs, allowing the case and legs to be used in landscape or portrait mode. Both products are available form Amazon UK and a number of other retailers.

SoftColor Automata is a workflow automation solution for advanced colour correction, image editing and colour management. “The core of Automata’s workflow automation is SoftColor’s in-house developed spectral illumination detection algorithms which makes it possible to teach the computer to think about colours like a human being,” the developer says. “For the end-user this gives an automatic and fully customizable solution to fix white balance, exposure and contrast problems.” The program is available immediately for $199 through the website below.

Spider Holster has unveiled its modular SpiderPro Pad, which allows photographers to carry two pro-level DSLR cameras without straps or bags. The design places a Spider Holster and pad on each hip, eliminating the back, shoulder and neck strain of carrying cameras on neck straps. The SpiderPro system is fully customizable and those that already own a single-camera SpiderPro Holster don’t need to buy a whole new system. They can simply purchase a SpiderPro Pad upgrade kit for $120 that contains a SpiderPro Pad, SpiderPro Holster, SpiderPro Plate, along with one SpiderPro Pin and adapter screws. In addition, SpiderPro Pad adapter kits are available that will accommodate the SpiderPro system on popular third party photography belts. Newcomers to Spider Holster can purchase a complete SpiderPro DualCam System for an introductory price of $235 via the website below or through retail outlets worldwide.