Following a development announcement issued before Photokina 2010, Canon has now launched the Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM and EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lenses. Both lenses feature completely redesigned optics, with 16 elements in 12 groups. Each includes the latest Canon Image Stabiliser (IS) technology, while magnesium alloy constructions with titanium components make each lens significantly lighter and even more durable than its respective predecessor. Rapid, quiet autofocus is provided by a ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM). Both lenses are weatherproof, and available from mid-2011. The Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM is priced at £8,999/€10,799/$9,499; whilst the EF 600mm F/4L IS II USM can be yours for £11,299/ €13,549/$11,999. Prices include VAT.

Canon has launched the new Speedlite 320EX and Speedlite 270EX II flash units. The Speedlite 270EX II replaces the Speedlite 270EX at the entry level of Canon’s Speedlite range, whilst the Speedlite 320EX (pictured) is a compact and versatile flash for users of mid-level cameras who want to take more control over lighting. Both new models are compatible with Canon’s distance-linked E-TTL II system, and can be used on-camera or as slave units controlled by a separate master unit or the Integrated Speedlite Transmitter of the EOS 600D, EOS 60D and EOS 7D.The Speedlite 270EX II (£249.99/€299.00) has a guide number of 27 in metres at ISO 100/21°, and features a tilting flash head, while the Speedlite 320EX (£249.99/€299.00) has a guide number of 32 and features a zooming tilt-swivel head plus an integrated LED video light.

Canon has announced the development of a new 200-400mm lens with a built-in 1.4x focal length extender. Called the CanonEF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXTENDER 1.4×, the new telezoom will enable photographers to shoot a greater breadth of subjects using a single lens, delivering the best possible image quality at all focal lengths, the company claims. With the use of the integrated extender, the lens becomes a 280-560mm, making it ideal for wildlife and sports photographers. The lens will be displayed for the first time during CP+, held in Yokohama, Japan.

Twenty-four years after the first Electro Focus (EF) lens launched, Canon announced that it had reached a milestone by producing the 60 millionth lens in the series. This landmark was achieved on 11th January 2011 during the production of an EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM (pictured), thirteen months after the production of the company’s 50 millionth EF lens.

The Canon IXUS 310 HS / PowerShot ELPH 500 HS is a touch screen compact camera with superior low-light capabilities. The Canon 310 HS has a 12.1 megapixel sensor, f/2.0, 24mm, 4.4x zoom, 8.0 cm (3.2”) Touch LCD, and full 1080p HD movies. The Canon 310 HS / PowerShot 500 HS is available from early March 2011, priced at £299.00/€359.00/$299.99.

The Canon PowerShot SX230 HS and SX220 HS are two new travel-zoom compact cameras. Both the Canon SX230 and SX220 offer a 12.1 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, wide-angle 14x optical zoom lens, full HD (1080p) movie recording with stereo sound, and 7.5 cm (3.0”) LCD screen. The SX230 additionally offers built-in GPS. In the UK the Canon SX230 HS and PowerShot SX220 HS will be available from mid-March 2011. In the US, the PowerShot SX230 HS will be available at the end of March for $349.99.

The Canon IXUS 220 HS / PowerShot ELPH 300 HS is a sleek, slim and stylish compact digital camera. The Canon 220 HS has a 12.1 megapixel sensor, 24mm, 5x optical zoom lens, 2.7 inch screen and full HD movies. The Canon 220 HS is available from mid February, priced at £199.00/€239.00/$249.99.

The Canon IXUS 115 HS / ELPH 100 HS compact camera blends stand-out looks with great performance. The Canon 115 HS has a 12.1 megapixel sensor, 28mm wide-angle, 4x optical zoom, full HD movies, and 3 inch LCD screen. The Canon 115 HS / 100 HS will be available in mid-March for $199.99.

The Canon iX6550 / iX6540 is the most compact A3+ printer in the PIXMA range. 30 percent smaller than its predecessor, the iX6550 / iX6540 is aimed at advanced home and office users looking for superb quality when producing photos or documents. The Canon iX6550 will be available across Europe from March 2011, and the iX6540 will be available across Middle East and Africa from March 2011.

The Canon Pixma MX884 is a premium All-in-One device offering Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity. Using 5 individually replaceable inks, the Pixma MX884 can produce photos of “exceptional quality” with minimum 1 picolitre ink droplets, and maximum 9,600dpi print resolution. The device can print border-less 4x6”/10x15cm photos in approximately 20 seconds, and is able to scan documents and prints at up to 2400dpi. Essentially the same product as the Pixma MX885 - which is intended for European markets -, the Canon Pixma MX884 launches across Middle East and Africa from March 2011.

The Canon Pixma MX885 is a premium All-In-One printer, copier and scanner. The device features a sleek design and incorporates a new Dual Function Panel user interface with LED lit dual-purpose keys.  These change appearance according to the mode selected, therefore reducing the number of physical buttons.The Pixma MX885 uses dye inks to produce exceptional quality photos with minimum 1 picolitre ink droplets, and maximum 9,600dpi print resolution. A 2,400dpi scanner ensures fast, clear and high-resolution scanning, while Auto Scan Mode allows users to create high quality scans in the correct format using a simple one-click process. The Canon Pixma MX885 is available across Europe from March 2011, pricing to be confirmed.

Canon today announced the launch of three new All-In-One models, the Pixma MX420, Pixma MX410 and Pixma MX360. Replacing the Pixma MX350 MX340 and MX320, the new models boast improved print speeds at a maximum print resolution of 4,800x1,200dpi. The Pixma MX410 and Pixma MX420 also offer users Wi-Fi connectivity for easy sharing across a wireless network. Additionally, the Pixma MX420 features an easy-to-view 6.2cm colour TFT display that ensures users can easily see what actions they are selecting. The devices witll be abailabale from March, pricing to be confirmaed.

Canon USA announced that its parent company registered a company record of 2,543 new patents in 2010, the highest number of patents the company has ever received in a single year. Many of these have already found their way to commercially available products - for instance, the Canon Pixma MG8120 (pictured) and MG6120 have introduced a new light guidance system and incorporated Canon’s Full HD Movie Print mode. “Each year, Canon invests nearly ten percent of global revenue into research and development so we are able to continually enhance our current products and develop new technologies that keep us on the cutting edge of innovation,” said Seymour Liebman, executive vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel, Canon USA.

Schneider-Kreuznach, best known for its photographic lenses, has joined the Micro Four Thirds System Standard Group. “This standard has great potential. It simplifies and improves the options for compact digital cameras and offers an excellent opportunity for the industry as a whole, as well as for us as a lens manufacturer. We are working intensively on a corresponding series of lenses,” commented Dr. Josef Staub, CEO of the Schneider Group. There’s no further details yet on what the first Schneider-Kreuznach branded Micro Four Thirds lenses will be, or when they will be released.

Phototraining.co offers a new breed of real-world photography courses. Award-winning pros Adam Duckworth and John Owen Prices present informal, easy-to-follow courses without the jargon. Prices start at £99, and courses kick off on February 25 in London with a Dramatic Lighting course.

American Girl is an exhibition featuring the work of three American photographers who have turned their focus on female subjects from their homeland. Running from 17 February - 27 February 2011 at the Viewfinder Photography Gallery in Brixton, London, American Girl subverts the notion of the classic female nude, showing us the inner struggle women face in achieving beauty and perfection. The exhibition is free.

Far Too Close is a new book by Martina Hoogland Ivanow which meditates on the closeness to a subject and remoteness from a place. Martina Hoogland Ivanow interweaves family portraits and interiors of home with landscapes of some of the most remote and far flung locations at the very ends of the Earth. Far Too Close costs £29.00 / €34.00 / $46.00 and is available in March 2011.

Zoner Photo Studio is now available in German, French, Italian and Russian, in addition to the existing English and Czech versions. “This wide availability enables our customers to work natively in their language,” says Managing Director Pavel Minar. Zoner Photo Studio 13 brings a significant increase in speed versus the previous version of the software, and includes an improved catalogue.

MoviePlus X5, an easy-to-use video editor from Serif, will be launched on Monday. Compatible with Windows 7/Vista/XP, the program offers 200+ video and audio effects, and users can burn their finished films onto DVDs and Blu-ray disks. The latest version provides adanced support for HD videos, an improved user interface and a range of usability enhancements, new tools and effects. Compatible with Windows 7/Vista/XP, MoviePlus X5 retails at £59.99.