ScanCafe has recently launched service for editing and transferring consumer video tape content onto DVD. This is not an automated process, the company says. The tapes are digitised by a technician, using studio quality equipment, and then reviewed and edited in detail, by hand, to address the many issues that plague old tapes: Once the video tape’s contents are digitised and repaired, they are assembled and authored onto an advanced, “Hollywood-quality” DVD, complete with special effects, manual scene selection and manual trimming. The price for each video tape (up to two hours in length) is $14.99. Formats supported include VHS, S-VHS, VHS-C, Betamax, VHS HiFi, Hi 8, Digital 8, and MiniDV.

Burrard-Lucas Photography has launched a Landscape Photography Contest. This competition is open to participants worldwide, and there is no entry fee. Entrants may submit a maximum of three images to the contest The deadline for entries is 31 July 2011. The main prize is a Canon EOS 60D digital camera. Additionally, the winner will also receive a $100 gift voucher from Amazon, while two runners up will be presented with a $25 voucher each. For more information, visit the website below.

Website: Burrard-Lucas Photography - Landscape Photography Contest - 2011

Alamy launched its German website today. Billed as the world’s largest independent stock photo website, Alamy sees this as “an important milestone in understanding how to roll out its unique blend of a massive digital inventory and strong customer service to other languages and regions”. The company has recruited a German speaking customer service team and is currently inviting applications from candidates with experience in sales.

Website: Alamy.de

Jaybilizer today introduced the new, easier-to-balance version 2.0 Jaybilizer HDSLR camera stabiliser. Constructed of high quality steel and aluminium, the Jaybilizer HDSLR 2.0 makes the process of balancing the camera much easier with both side-to-side and forward and backward infinitely adjustable sliding balance plates with external locking screws. The Jaybilizer HDSLR 2.0 is available for purchase for $249 plus S&H from the website below.

The Rollei Designline 4083 is an 8-inch digital photo frame featuring a 4:3 aspect ratio and a resolution of 800x600 pixels. Functions include a slide show with 15 different transition effects, plus a clock and a calendar. Available in a choice of black or white, the Rollei Designline 4083 features an SD card slot and comes with a remote control. The frame will be available at the end of this month for €59.95.

Jessops has launched a new, limited-time promotion on the Canon EOS 500D Twin Lens Kit. The kit, including the body, 18-55 & 75-300 mm lenses, will be available for a 20% reduced price of £599, together with a free Activity Camera (worth £50) and £50 of photo processing vouchers. The offer will run until stocks last.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has confirmed that Nikon UK Limited has become a licensee of London 2012. In addition to producing a licensed range of Sport Optics, including binoculars, telescopes and laser rangefinders for spectators and competitors, Nikon UK has also been appointed as Sole Supplier of Sport Optics for use by officials at a number of Olympic and Paralympic sports including Sailing, Archery, Shooting and Athletics.

Manfrotto has kicked off what it calls a “global conversation on how to share and express imagination through better images” by issuing the Imagine More Global Manifesto. This manifesto is just a single part of the Imagine More Initiative which includes a contest, “designed to give people across the globe a chance to re-define 21st century creativity, walk the red carpet and be recognised at the 2011 Venice Film Festival”. It is a user-generated process that involves consumers from the United Kingdom, the United States, China, France, Germany, Italy and Hong Kong. The first part of the contest from now until May 31, 2011, will aim to define the ten basic principles of imagination through user-generated tweets. The five best tweets will be coupled with tweets from celebrity talents to complete the manifesto text. The second part of the contest, from June 1- 15, 2011, gives more visual social recorders the opportunity to express and share their imagination by uploading their best photos to manfrottoimaginemore.com, Facebook and Flickr. Two winners – one from each part of the contest - will receive an exclusive trip to Venice for the next Film Festival.

NAVTEQ have issued a statement revealing that map and location data for the built-in GPS unit of the Olympus Tough TG-810 digital compact camera are supplied by them. The TG-810 features GPS functions and an electronic compass to record the location data of the shot. By simply activating the GPS functionality, the camera can display landmarks on the monitor and identify the country/region of the shot being taken. Integrated within the TG810 are NAVTEQ maps and Points of Interest (POI), so users can link every photo they take with the exact POI on the NAVTEQ map, the company says.

PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo has announced that British documentary photographer, Jason Larkin, is the winner of the 2011 Arnold Newman Award for New Directions in Photographic Portraiture. Larkin’s winning image series, titled “Past Perfect,” examines how the museums of Egypt use different styles of curating to present exhibits depicting the past to contemporary audiences. He will receive a $15,000 cash award and an exhibit of his winning picture series at the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland, Maine from 2 July—27 November 2011.

Akvis has updated its ArtSuite to version 7.0. ArtSuite is a collection of versatile effects for decorating photos. The effects are grouped in two categories - Frames and Artistic Effects. Version 7.0 adds 105 new patterns to the Pattern Library, for use with the Classic Frame. A new frame pack - the Sports Pack - and support for raw image files have also been added. The new version also includes an OS File dialog for loading and saving files. The standalone version of Akvis ArtSuite sells for $69, while the plug-in retails for $49. Registered users of earlier versions can upgrade to version 7 for free. The Sports Pack is available for $19.

Calumet Photographic will host two marketing and self-promotion related workshops in Los Angeles, California. Presented by Maria Piscopo, both classes will take place on Saturday, 18th June. The first workshop, Getting Your Business Started ($45), will be held from 10am to 1pm. You will learn how to: start a creative business, handle taxes and business records, find the best clients for your creativity, sell your work by getting appointments, make presentations and better deal with pricing and negotiating. The second workshop, Marketing in Today’s Economy ($45), will take place from 2pm to 5pm, and will cover techniques to keep your clients coming back, to become more aware of the courtship and bonding in the photographer and client relationship and the latest in web sites, direct mail and internet marketing. Both workshops will be presented at the 1135 N. Highland Avenue, Los Angeles store.

Adva-Soft has announced that its TouchRetouch app will be released for Android devices at the end of this month. Already available for iOS, ToucRetouch allows users to remove objects from freshly captured or saved photographs easily, without affecting any other elements of the picture. Featuring in-app video tutorials, unlimited Undo actions and an easy-to-use interface, the Android version of the app will retail for $0.99.

A hands-on preview of the new Panasonic G3 compact system camera, with a gallery of 28 photos.

A photo gallery comparing the Panasonic G3 alongside several other compact system cameras.

Take a peek inside as we unbox the brand new Panasonic G3 compact system camera.

The Panasonic LUMIX G3 is the world’s smallest Compact System Camera with a build-in Electronic View Finder. The Panasonic G3 features a 15.8-megapixel sensor, fast auto-focus speed of up to 0.1 second, 3-inch free-angle touch-screen LCD, 4fps continuous shooting and full HD 1920 x 1080 50i movies. The Panasonic LUMIX G3 will be available in June for £629/$699 including a kit zoom.