Sigma says some of its lenses may have a potential aperture operation problem when used with the Sony A33 and A55 “SLT” cameras. Those camera owners who experience this issue are encouraged to contact the a Sigma Service Station for a free lens modification. Note that for lenses discontinued several years ago, a modification may not be available. Future batches of Sigma lenses for the Sony A mount will be fully compatible with these cameras, the manufacturer says.

Olympic Dreams is an exhibition by James Dodd that introduces viewers to the City of Sheffield Diving Team and their youth development programme, which works alongside the nations preparations to develop our sporting elite for the 2012 London Olympics. Presented by Bank Street Arts in partnership with Print 4 Sheffield, Olympic Dreams features 8 images presented in light-boxes within an atmospheric darkened gallery space. “For the series I decided to concentrate on a ‘non standard’ approach to documentary photography. Rather than simply showing a day in their lives etc,” says James Dodd. “I wanted to convey their dreams, something that obviously isn’t visible.” Running until the end of this month, the exhibition can be seen in the Bank Street Arts gallery, 32-40 Bank Street, Sheffield. There is an evening viewing with the photographer planned for 17th September, starting at 7pm, which is open to the public.

Shiraz Software has announced that it will be launching an updated version of its Shiraz Focus raster image processing (RIP) package at Photokina. The latest update to Shiraz Focus provides a raft of image control and production options for photographic and fine art output. A new component has been added and provides pre-print editing, such as adjustments, filters or effects, while the main application now enables users to save and recall jobs, add a variety of frame and crop marks and apply changes across batches. Photographers can also take advantage of Shiraz Focus’s print management facilities to keep their costs down and reduce production times.

Canon promises to showcase an exciting range of innovative imaging products at this year’s Photokina. To ensure all visitors at this year’s Photokina, which runs from 21st to 26th September, can try Canon’s new products with ease, a 3,155-square-metre showcase has been built and can be found in Halle 3.2. Some of the highlights include the Canon EOS 60D digital SLR camera, the Canon XF105 professional camcorder, the Canon IXUS 1000 HS compact ultrazoom camera, the EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM zoom lens (pictured) as well as Canon’s Pixma and imagePROGRAF printers.

This year’s Hasselblad booth at Photokina will be a hotspot for attendees to learn about and experience the world of Hasselblad. Renowned fashion photographer Tom Hagemeyer will re-create the excitement of the Paris cabaret by staging a burlesque show at the booth. Visitors will have the opportunity to photograph this event using the Hasselblad H4D. Interested readers are encouraged to pre-register online at the Hasselblad website for the Catwalk Experience. The show will run several times a day throughout the length of the fair. Hasselblad is also setting up a special stage with one of the world’s most extraordinary sports cars. Professional automobile photographers Guenther Raupp (Tuesday-Thursday) and Roberto Bigano (Friday-Sunday) will offer 30-minute Master Classes five times a day for attendees to get a first-hand look at their set-up and shooting techniques.

Datacolor will be offering free calibration services at Photokina 2010 using its complete line of Spyder3 monitor calibration products and the SpyderLensCal, a new DSLR lens calibration device. Offering calibration of lenses and autofocus functions on modern DSLR camera bodies, the SpyderLensCal will be officially unveiled on September 22 at 10am at Datacolor’s booth (Hall 4.1, Booth E010/F019). In addition, Datacolor will also be presenting the results of its ‘Real New York’ photo contest.

The Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG21 and VPC-GH3 are new dual cameras capable of shooting 1080i video and 10-megapixel photos. Also featuring 5x optical zoom for stills and 10x “dual-range” zoom for video, these digital cameras are almost identical inside but look very different on the outside. The Xacti VPC-CG21 is a pistol-shaped affair, while the GH3 is a more traditional, horizontal design. Both cameras feature 2.7-inch fold-out LCD screens with a resolution of 230,000 dots, HDMI ports and easy operation, and both will be available at a recommended price of €199.

Website: Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG21 Datasheet (in German)
Website: Sanyo Xacti VPC-GH3 Datasheet (in German)

The Wild Side of Photography by Cyrill Harnischmacher is now available in the UK. This book, which debuted in the US in August, is geared toward the adventurous photographer. From this book, you will learn build a shift/tilt lens for your DSLR from an old junkyard 120 film camera, try the camera toss, shoot images from a kite, use a peephole door viewer as a fisheye lens, or build your own pinhole camera. Each project is presented with easy to understand instructional text, background information about the author and the project, and beautiful colour images to illustrate what can be accomplished and how you can do it too. Written by Cyrill Harnischmacher, this 176-page book is available for £22.99.

At Photokina 2010, the Manfrotto School of Xcellence will be offering participants a unique opportunity to listen, learn and talk with five top professional photographers. The School’s showcase will take place at the Manfrotto School of Xcellence Theatre in Hall 5.1 of the fair in Cologne, and will feature hourly presentations by photographers Bill Frakes, Joe McNally. These presentations will take place at 1pm on each day of the fair and then at 4pm on Sunday. In addition to this, at the School Booth in Hall 5.1 Bill and Joe will be giving portfolio reviews in the mornings - so aspiring photographers have the opportunity for a professional one-to-one critique of their work with feedback and advice. More portfolio reviews will be held in the afternoon, lead by another three highly respected photographers: Roberto Bigano from Italy, Uwe Statz from Germany, and Drew Gardner from the UK.

Website: Manfrotto School of Xcellence

THROUGH THE EYES OF THE VIKINGS: An Aerial Vision of Arctic Lands is a new title from National Geographic Books. Showcasing more than 100 spectacular and “utterly unfamiliar” views of Arctic lands and waterways, this new book by celebrated aerial photographer Robert Haas promises to “shatter our preconceived notions about a barren Arctic landscape”. The 224-page hardcover will be released on Tuesday 21th September at a price of $50.

A company called Soviet Montage Productions has released a short HDR video captured using two Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR cameras and a beam splitter. The two cameras used different exposure settings but - thanks to the beam splitter - filmed the exact same scene, allowing the two pieces of footage to be blended and tone-mapped in software. The result is a more realistic and more “film-like” video, as you can see below.

The Sinar eShutter is an electronically controlled precision shutter for view cameras. The Sinar eShutter is completely integrated into the Sinar System and in addition, thanks to its open architecture, it can also be used with any other system. Integrated microprocessor controls guarantee the highest precision when working with a view camera and they provide fast shutter speeds of up to 1/250 second. Sinar says its eShutter has a compact and light construction and can be attached to different camera platforms. The Sinar eShutter will become available at the beginning of next year. The price will be announced at Photokina.

Want to see exactly what the new Pentax K-r DSLR camera looks like in the flesh?

Here are 10 hands-on product shots of the mid-range Pentax K-r, giving you a good idea of just how small it is - click through to view the gallery.

Want to see exactly what the new Pentax Optio RZ10 compact camera looks like in the flesh?

Here are 7 hands-on product shots of the Pentax Optio RZ10, which is covered in a curiously tactile rubberised material - click through to view the gallery.

The Pentax K-r is a mid-range DSLR camera targeted at digital SLR novices and family users. Featuring a 12.4 megapixel sensor and 6fps continuous shooting, the Pentax Kr has a compact, lightweight body with a stainless-steel chassis, 11-point AF system, ISO 25600, 720p movies, high-resolution 3.0-inch LCD monitor, Shake Reduction mechanism and support for the supplied lithium-ion battery and AA-size batteries. The PENTAX K-r will be available from October 2010 in two kits - the K-r and the 18-55mm DAL lens for £599.99, and the K-r and the 18-55mm DAL and 50-200mm DAL lenses for £699.99.

The SMC PENTAX-DA 35mm F2.4 AL is a new standard prime lens. Offering a natural perspective similar to that of the naked eye, the Pentax 35mm f/2.4 lens can be used with all Pentax digital SLR cameras, offering an angle of view equivalent to a 53.5mm lens in the 35mm format. The SMC PENTAX-DA 35mm F2.4 AL will be available from mid October 2010 for £179.99.

The Pentax Optio RZ10 is a digital compact camera with a 10x zoom lens and 14 megapixel sensor. Offering a focal range of 28-280mm, the Pentax RZ10 also features a 1cm macro mode, 720p video, 2.7-inch colour LCD monitor, Auto Picture Mode, and Dual Shake Reduction system. Available in a range of five colours, the Pentax Optio RZ10 will be available in October 2010 for £179.99.

The Pentax Optio RS1000 is a unique customisable compact camera. The RS1000 can be personalised with photographs or illustrations, printed on a template that lies between the body and a transparent front panel. There will also be a RS1000 website to visit where visitors can choose, download and print ready-made templates, create their own ‘skins’ and play fun games. In addition the Pentax RS1000 offers 14 megapixels, 3 inch LCD screen, Auto Picture Mode, 720p video, and a range of digital filters. Available in a black or white base colour, the Pentax Optio RS1000 will be available in October 2010 for £119.99.

Carl Zeiss has expanded its Compact Prime CP.2 lens series with two new focal lengths: the 50mm with macro and 100mm with close focus function. The CP.2 100 mm/T2.1 CF is based on the Planar design and is the longest focal length in the Compact Prime CP.2 lens series so far. It extends the series by adding a very fast telephoto lens with a close-up focusing range of 0.7 metres. The CP.2 50mm/T2.1 Makro is based on the Makro-Planar design and allows close-up shots to be taken with the object at a distance of just 24 centimetres. These lenses have been specially developed for filming with DSLR cameras and will be presented for the first time at the IBC in Amsterdam. Product delivery is scheduled for the 4th quarter of 2010. Retail price starts at €3,700 excluding VAT.

The Sling-O-Matic is a new sling bag from Think Tank Photo. Similarly to the recently announced Hama Katoomba 170RL and 190RL bags, the Sling-O-Matic has one adjustable shoulder strap that can be easily switched back and forth to either shoulder. The Sling-O-Matic series offers three unique bags to choose from, depending on the amount of photo gear a photographer needs to carry. The Sling-O-Matic 10 can carry a pro-size DSLR and three to four lenses, including a 70-200 f2.8. The Sling-O-Matic 20 and Sling-O-Matic 30 can each carry a pro-size DSLR and four to six lenses. The Sling-O-Matic 30 also features a separate laptop compartment for carrying a 15.4” laptop. All of these bags will be released in October, with pricing to be determined.