Kodak has announced a brand new 29-megapixel image sensor, billed as the highest resolution CCD based on Interline Transfer technology. With a pixel pitch of 5.5 microns, the Kodak KAI-29050 “sets a new benchmark for high-resolution, low noise image capture for applied imaging markets”, according to Kodak. Supporting up to 4 frames per second (fps), the new sensor has been “designed in a 35mm optical format”, which in our understanding means its dimensions are close to that of the 36x24mm frame size used in most 35mm film cameras. The Kodak KAI-29050 will be on display at the Vision 2010 Trade Show, which opens on 9th November in Stuttgart, Germany; and mass production is scheduled for mid-2011.

Corbis Images have has announced that acclaimed photographer Max Abadian has joined Corbis Outline. Featuring high-quality in-studio celebrity portraiture, Outline has been a Corbis brand for years. Iran-born Max Abadian has photographed many of the most celebrated icons over the course of his career including Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani, Fergi, Julianne Moore and Jeff Goldblum. His work has appeared in Vogue, Glamour, Grazia, In Style, Pulp, the National Post and Flare, as well as numerous international advertising campaigns. He currently splits his time between Canada, Los Angeles and New York, photographing celebrated legends and up-and-coming stars alike.

The Wapping Project – Bankside gallery is hosting a new exhibition titled “Photography 1948 – 2010: WOMEN”. The exhibition looks at the female as both a subject and object and explores the topic from male and female perspectives. Bringing together three outstanding fashion photographers, a narrative photographer and two fine art photographers, “Photography 1948 – 2010: WOMEN” will be on display until 23rd December, Admission is free. The Wapping Project – Bankside gallery space is located at 65a Hopton Street, London.

The Marumi Ring Flash is now available in the UK with a Sony fit. Designed for close up, macro, medical, scientific and forensic photography, the device consists of a Main Control Unit which fits directly onto the camera hot shoe and a separate Ring Flash Unit which connects to the lens filter thread. The standard mount is 52mm and step up rings to 55mm, 58mm, 62mm and 67mm are included. The unit incorporates direct hot shoe synchronisation and has a flash duration of 1/7000th second and a recycling time of 4-6 seconds. The Marumi DRF14 has a recommended retail price of £187.41 and is available now.

Kenro has announced the UK release of the Tokina AT-X 16.5 135mm DX lens.Offering an equivalent angle of view to 25-200mm, the Tokina 16.5-135mm lens is well suited to scenic and travel photography. Three aspherical elements, one all glass precision-molded element and 2 compound elements yield high contrast. Additionally two Super-low Dispersion (SD) glass elements correct chromatic aberration. The lens comes with either a Canon or Nikon fit and has a recommended retail price of £799.

La Maison is a new series of books by Lesothan photographer Koto Bolofo. Bolofo’s dream came true in 2004 when he started working for Monde d’Hermès, photographing craftsmen making handbags, saddles, scarves, prêt-à-porter, and shoes. The result is a collection of 11 books published by Steidl. Priced at £103 / €115 / $125, La Maison will be released in December.

Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) today announced that registration is now open for WPPI 2011 via its convention and trade show website. Billed as the largest annual expo and conference in the world for professional photographers, WPPI 2011 will be held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, from 17-24 February 2011. The early bird registration rate is $199 for members and $379 for non-members. After 15th December, WPPI 2011 registration will be $259 for members and $399 for non-members.

The Epson Red Sea 2010 marine photography competition will be held in Eilat, Israel, from 8-13 November. The sixth annual competition also plays host this year to fashion photographers. Confirmed fashion industry participants in the competition already include Swiss photographer Kurt Amsler (Rolex) and German Marc Hillesheim, who has worked with brands including Orsay. The photograph accompanying this story was taken during the 2009 competition by Swiss photographer Mirko Zanni.

DxO Labs have announced a >30% discount on their DxO OPtics Pro software, including both full licenses and product upgrades. DxO Optics Pro Standard Edition is now available for €99 instead of €149, while the Professional Edition can be had for €199 instead of €299. The program can be purchased online in the DxO Labs Shop. The discount offer is valid until 25th December.

Focal Press has announced the publication of the second edition of Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity by Michelle Bates. This volume brings together the world of toy camera photography, including the history of their use, exhaustive instructions, tips and tricks for getting the most out of Holgas and other choice cameras, advanced camera modifications, darkroom and presentation information, and resources for continued research and sharing. The new edition includes the latest toy cameras including the Pinhole Wide Holga, the Stereo Holga, and the all-new Blackbird, Fly. The 288-page paperback is available for $29.95.

Photographs of some of the biggest names in 20th century English literature by Mark Gerson, are for auction at Bonhams. In a career that spanned 40 years Gerson photographed all the great names in British literature including William Golding, Walter de la Mare, Roald Dahl, John Osborne, and Salman Rushdie.  Photographs of all these figures are in the sale together with one of the American writer James Baldwin (above). The photographs are all signed by Mark Gerson and are priced variously at between £400 and 1,500. The auctioneer’s Books, Maps and Manuscripts sale will be held in London on 23 November.

The Levi’s Photo Workshop kicks off a week-long celebration of sports through the lens of photography on Sunday. The We Are All Fanatics exhibition will open at 11am on Sunday. In a tribute to the world of sports photography, the Levi’s Photo Workshop will transform itself into a super fan fantasy world, with an opportunity to learn about the fine art of sports photography from the Workshop staff. The exhibition itself, running from 7-13th November, will feature photographs by renowned photographers Naomi Harris and Richard Kern. Entry is free. The Levi’s Photo Workshop is located at 18 Wooster Street, New York.

Wood’s 100 Old Navy Rum has launched a nationwide search for photos of life on board over the Christmas period, offering entrants the chance to win £500 worth of gardening and power tools. In addition to the winning prize, the first 3 runners up and the first 3 entries will win a bottle of Wood’s 100 Old Navy Rum. Open to Uk residents, the competition runs until 5th December. As always, we recommend that you read the terms and conditions (found in the press release below) before entering your work.

Want to see exactly how the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 compact system camera compares to the Panasonic GF1, Panasonic LX5, and Samsung NX100?

Then check out our hands-on photo gallery of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 compact system camera alongside its predecessor, compact camera sibling and one of its main rivals.

Want to see exactly what the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 compact system camera looks like?

Then check out our hands-on photo gallery of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2, the World’s smallest compact system camera.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 is the World’s smallest and lightest compact system camera. Successor to the popular GF1, the new 12 megapixel Panasonic GF2 is 19% smaller in size and 7% less in weight than than its predecessor. The DMC-GF2 has a touch control 460,000-dot LCD screen and a new Graphic User Interface (GUI) and full HD movies at 1920 x 1080 at 60i (NTSC) / 50i (PAL) in AVCHD format. Available in black, silver and, red, pink and white, in the UK the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 will be available in January 2011 with either the 14-42mm lens for £599.99, 14mm lens for £629.99 or a 14-42m / 14mm twin lens kit for £729.99.

Hamrick Software has released an update to VueScan, which adds the ability for Photoshop to import scans directly from the scanning software itself. Version 8.6.66 also adds support for TWAIN drivers for importing images from a scanner into other programs. “This means that importing images using other programs is a lot faster and easier, and also uses less memory when scanning,” says Ed Hamrick, president of Hamrick Software. VueScan is available in two editions, Standard ($39.95) and Professional ($79.95). The Professional Edition adds unlimited free upgrades, advanced IT8 color calibration and support for raw scan files.