Neovoyage has announced its 2011 photography tours. This summer, participants will embark on a fascinating journey across the Andes of Ecuador to explore one of the most diverse places on Earth. The 14-day Ecuador photography tour follows a path lined with volcanic peaks, Inca ruins and cloud-forest reserves between two UNESCO world heritage sites. In the fall,  photographers will visit the remnants of mysterious cultures like the Chimu and the Nasca along the Peruvian coast. The 11-day Peru photography tour takes photographers to places where Peru shows its more authentic side as colonial towns coexist with ruins still being excavated. For more information, visit the website below.

The 38th issue of the free PhotographyBB Online Magazine is now available for download. This edition features several articles on photographing animals, including dogs, birds in flight, lions, leopards and elephants. Guest contributor Mario Fazekas has a richly illustrated 10-page article on photographing South Africa’s Super Seven on a budget, while photographer Heather Bashow shares her secrets of shooting birds in flight. In addition, staff writer Mike Frye takes a look at networking in the world of photojournalism, while PhotographyBB’s editor and publisher Dave Seeram explores ways to achieve the popular pop-art effect in Photoshop CS5. The 38th edition is available now on the PhotographyBB website.

Website: PhotographyBB

Capture: Digital Photography Essentials is a new title from Rocky Nook. This book concentrates on photography from a digital-capture-workflow point of view. The text addresses both the opportunities and limitations of digital photography, and teaches readers how to make the most of the opportunities and to work around the limitations. The 264-page volume sells for $39.95, and is available for pre-order at the website below.

Canon have released a new firmware update for the EOS 60D DSLR camera. Version 1.0.9 incorporates the following fixes and changes:

1. Changes the name of the feature called “Art Filters” to “Creative Filters” (which is used in markets other than Japan) in the Japanese version to make the terms consistent. (This change only applies to the Japanese version and does not apply to other language versions.)
2. Fixes a phenomenon where the camera may operate abnormally when it is set to Quick Mode AF during Live View shooting immediately after capturing an image with the C.Fn II-1 Long exposure noise reduction setting set to [2: On] and a shutter speed setting of 5 seconds or more.
3. Fixes a phenomenon where the camera may operate abnormally when after Live View shooting, the remote switch on the EOS Utility screen is pressed to immediately start movie-shooting. This phenomenon only occurs when the camera is connected to a compatible personal computer and the Remote Live View function of EOS Utility software is being used.

Website: Canon EOS 60D Firmware Update 1.0.9

Epson America is expanding its Stylus Pro line of printing solutions with a wider selection of Designer Edition bundles that combine Epson Stylus Pro printers with the EFI eXpress for Epson Software RIP. Specifically, the Epson Stylus Pro 4900 Designer Edition is now joined by the Epson Stylus Pro 3880, 7890 and 9890 Designer Editions. All four Epson Stylus Pro Designer Edition bundles are now available through authorised Epson Professional Graphics resellers at prices ranging from $1,195 to $5,495. Additionally, Epson is currently offering customers mail-in rebates of up to $750 on these bundles. Note that the products must be purchased from an Epson Authorised Professional Imaging Reseller before 31 May 2011, and claims must be postmarked within 30 days from the purchase date..

Bibble 5.2.2 provides broader raw file support, improved stability, and resolves minor issues found in previous releases of Bibble 5. Bibble 5.2.2 also improves interaction with plugins that change the size of your photo, like zFrame and zShadow. Bibble Labs customers who purchased Bibble 4 since September, 2006 are eligible for a free upgrade to Bibble 5, and Bibble 5.2.2 is a free upgrade for all current Bibble 5 customers. The update is available immediately for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Genius today released its MousePen M508W 5” x 8” wireless graphic-design tablet in the USA and Canada. The MousePen M508W comes complete with a stylus that is tilt-sensitive ±60 degrees and has 1024 pressure levels. The stylus moves across the 4000 LPI high-resolution contact area “as if the screen and tablet were the same”, making operation smooth and accurate, the manufacturer claims. The suggested retail price for the Genius MousePen M508W is $149.

The Fuji Instax Mini 50s instant film camera is now available from the Photojojo Store in a Piano Black version. Going for $149 including two packs of instant film, he Fuji Instax Mini 50s Piano Black is “sleeker, smarter and shinier” than previous versions. Photojojo is also selling the camera’s little brother the Instax Mini 25s, for $140 including a pack of instant film.

Website: The Photojojo Store

International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY) is reminding interested photographers that the deadline for entries for its 4Seasons competition is 31st March. This year’s theme is Monochrome, and the winner will receive a cash prize of £500 and a copy of the latest IGPOTY book, ‘International Garden Photographer of the Year Collection 04’ (to be published in May 2011). Entries cost £10 for 4 images and can be made online at the website below.

Renowned wildlife photographer Christian Sperka is bringing his ‘masters series’ photo workshop to South Africa from 1-5th July in a special programme created exclusively for African Portfolio, a luxury safari specialist. African Portfolio guests will join Sperka at Waterbuck private lodge at Kings Camp in the Timbavati Private Game Reserve and he will accompany the group in the open-air vehicles during twice daily safaris in the bush.The five-day, four-night programme with Sperka is $3,775; which includes deluxe accommodations, all meals, most drinks, and daily safari trekking on foot and in open-air vehicles with Sperka as well as a professional safari guide.

Aptogo has announced Version 2.0 of Showtime Lite, a free photo presentation app for iOS devices. With Showtime Lite, a user can enjoy their iPhone and iPod touch photos on the big screen without the need for syncing or cables. Photos can be displayed on any browser-based device on the local WiFi network including a Mac/PC, internet TV or games console. The user can drive the presentation using the iPhone as a remote control. Showtime Lite offers most of the features of Showtime Pro, except for the ability to download and upload full-resolution videos and photos with EXIF. Showtime Lite 2.0 is available through the iTunes App Store.

Fujifilm Japan have issued a statement saying that production of the X100 has resumed, with shipping beginning in early April. As the statement has only been posted on Fujifilm’s Japanese website, with no international updates as yet, we’re assuming at this stage that the shipping date for other countries will probably be later than early April.

Meanwhile, you can while away the time by reading our in-depth X100 review...

Website: Fujifilm Japan

Leica have announced a firmware update for their X1 premium compact camera. This update includes “autofocus speed in low light conditions and with low contrast subjects”, with the X1’s auto-focus speed (or lack of) something that we were critical of in our review. The Leica X1 firmware update will be available to download tomorrow - full details after the break…

Sigma have announced pricing and availability for the new DP2x compact camera. The successor to Sigma’s DP2 and DP2s cameras will be available for purchase in late April for the MSRP of $800.

The new inFocus (Essentials) app is a generic camera guide that explains the main features and functions of a modern DSLR. Published by In Focus, a photographic training centre based in the Peak District National Park, England, this app covers all the basics, from metering and histograms to exposure variables and focus modes. A set of full-colour pictures and diagrams complement the written material. inFocus (Essentials) costs £1.79 and is available from the iTunes App Store.

FotoDC has partnered with the US National Cherry Blossom Festival to produce the National Cherry Blossom Photo Contest. The submission deadline has been set for 9th April 9. The contest, is accepting entries in three categories: Landscape, People, and Festivities, taken during this year’s festival (26th March – 10th April), or taken within the previous two years. For each category, first place winners will receive a $500 cash prize, second place winners will receive a weekend stay at the Renaissance Washington, DC Dupont Circle Hotel, and third place winners will receive a Nikon Coolpix S3000 camera.

Website: National Cherry Blossom Photo Competition

Zacuto USA has just announced the Point’n'Shoot Pro external camera grip for those wishing to shoot steady video with their compact cameras without mounting them on a tripod. “The Point’n'Shoot Pro is my favorite Zacuto product. I originally made it just for me,” says Zacuto owner, Steve Weiss. “I love to use point and shoot cameras to shoot video, especially now that you can
shoot full 1080 24p. Trying to hold one of those tiny cameras steady is impossible but the Point’n'Shoot makes it the steadiest camera in the world. Having the quick-release makes it so I can put the camera in my back pocket and the Point’n'Shoot in the other.” The Point~n~Shoot Pro is available for $89.

Lomography has announced the Diana Deluxe Kit, which includes a Diana F+ camera and a wide range of accessories. These include a flash with hot-shoe adapters, a cable release, four different masks for various film frame formats, a range of lenses from fish-eye to telephoto, two external viewfinders, and more. Available online from the Lomography Store, the Diana Deluxe Kit sells for €200. The kit is also sold in a bundle with a 3-pack of X-Pro Slide 200 transparency film in 120 format, at a price of €220.

Rocoh has released a function-enhancing firmware update for the Ricoh GR Digital III camera. Like the GXR firmware update that was also posted today, it adds a Subject Tracking AF option to the focus modes on offer. Version 2.30 of the Ricoh GR Digital III firmware additionally gives photographers the choice to measure white balance off a small spot within the frame rather than the entire frame, and enables use of the electronic level gauge during self-timer operation.

Website: Ricoh GR Digital III Firmware 2.30