Timed to coincide with the announcement of the world’s first 3D consumer camcorder, Panasonic has also unveiled its plans to release an interchangeable 3D lens for the Micro Four Thirds system. This compact twin lens features two optical systems installed within the diameter of the lens mount, creating stereo images from the left and right lenses that are then processed with a 3D image processing system. Panasonic plans to release this new lens for sale before the end of the year.

Panasonic has announced the world’s first 3D consumer camcorder. The Panasonic HDC-SDT750 includes a 3D conversion lens that enables the camcorder to shoot true-to-life 3D video content. In addition to shooting 3D, the SDT750 can record full 1080p High Definition in AVCHD, when the 3D conversion lens is not attached, and boasts features such as a 3MOS system, a Leica Dicomar lens and 12x optical zoom. Note that in order to properly view 3D content produced by the camera, you will also need a TV that is capable of side-by-side method 3D playback, 3D Eyewear, and HDMI cable connection. The Panasonic HDC-SDT750 will be available in October 2010 with a suggested retail price of $1,399.95.

Update: We’ve added some real-life close-up shots of the HDC-SDT750 to the image gallery - click through to see them…

Panasonic has introduced the Panasonic HM-TA1, a new Full HD mobile video camera with pocket-sized dimensions. The Panasonic TA1 features an integrated USB terminal and software that allows for easy PC connection and uploading videos to online sharing sites such as YouTube and Facebook. Beyond its HD video-capturing capabilities, the TA1 can also double as a Web camera and microphone, working with IP-based video chat programs such as Skype, by simply connecting the video camera to a computer. Finally, the TA1 also supports the Apple iFrame video format (960x540/30p), which is quick to import and easy to edit on a Mac. The Panasonic HM-TA1 will be available in August with a suggested retail price of $169.95.

Update: We’ve added some real-life close-up shots of the HM-TA1 to the image gallery - click through to see them…

Sigma has released an APS-C lens hood adapter for use on the Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 DG OS HSM telezoom, nicknamed the “Bigma”. This hood adapter extends the length of the lens hood and provides more effective shading when used with digital cameras with an APS-C size image sensor. As of July 2010, the HA1030-01 adapter will be supplied with all APO 50-500mm DG OS HSM lenses. For UK customers who have already purchased the lens, the hood adapter will be available free of charge through Sigma Imaging (UK) Ltd. Note that this applies to the “OS HSM” version of the lens.

Pentax has issued a firmware update for the Pentax K-7 DSLR camera. Version 1.10 adds a movie editing function that enables users to split up video clips into multiple segments and erase unwanted segments from a movie, improves autofocus speed, enables Live View AF via a half-press of the shutter release, adds an electronic level indicator to the monitor display and a Reversal Film mode to the Custom Image options, and enables the camera to display both the electronic level indicator and the exposure indicator at the same time in M and X modes.

Website: Pentax K-7 Firmware

Jalbum has updated its iPhone app to include multi-selection of photos, simplifying the picture upload process. So far uploading photos from the iPhone, to any photo service, has been a repetitive task. Users have needed to select one photo at a time. This update to the Jalbum app cuts the time and effort of making a web album to a bare minimum. “Jalbums photo sharing service is primarily based on collections of photos, rather than individual photos. That is why we wanted to make uploading multiple photos in one go an easy task.” says lead developer Daniel Plamann. Jalbum for iPhone is a free download from the App Store.

Hasselblad will present the winning images of the 2009 Hasselblad Masters contest at Photokina 2010. “These images immediately knocked me out in so many ways: through their creative originality, passionate execution and technical perfection”, says Christian Nørgaard, Photographer Relations Manager at Hasselblad. “During the Masters competition, the ten winners prevailed despite a strong challenge from almost 3,000 photographers from all over the world.” The works will be on show in the Visual Gallery in Hall 1 at Photokina. If you like what you see there, you can also buy the book, “Hasselblad Masters Vol. 2 – Emotion”. This 240-page illustrated book published by the renowned teNeues Publishing Group will be unveiled on Tuesday, 21 September.

Sony has introduced three new Alpha A-Mount lenses - the Distagon T* 24mm F2,  DT 35mm F1.8 and 85mm F2.8 SAM. The Distagon T* 24mm F2 ZA SSM (SAL24F20Z) is a wide-angle lens for full-frame cameras, or offers a focal range of 36mm on APS-C bodies. The DT 35mm F1.8 SAM (SAL35F18) and the 85mm F2.8 SAM (SAL85F28) are new affordable ‘Easy Choice’ lenses, with the 85mm lens compatible with both full-frame and APS-C cameras. The Distagon T* 24mm F2 will be available in September for €1,250 / £1,100, the 85mm F2.8 SAM for €250 / £220, and the DT 35mm F1.8 in October for €200 / £175. There’s no news yet on US availability.

A group of young Hungarians, sponsored by industry big-shots Epson, Microsoft and Sony, have created the world’s highest-resolution 360° panoramic photograph to date. Shot from a 100-year-old observation tower built on the highest point of Budapest, the stitched panorama is over 590,000 pixels wide by nearly 121,000 pixels tall. In order to take the necessary number of photos in the least amount of time, the creators of the record-breaking image mounted a pair of Sony A900 bodies - each outfitted with a Minolta AF 400mm f/4.5 APO G lens and 1.4x teleconverter - on a sturdy stand complete with a custom-designed robotic head. Even with this setup, the image capturing stage of the project took over three hours to complete. The source images were then stitched with Autopano Giga software on a Dell Precision T7500 Workstation with 2 quad-core Intel Xeon processors, 24 gigabytes of RAM and 6 terabytes of storage capacity. The stitching process took two full days and resulted in a 200GB KRO file, which had to be converted into PPM format and split into three parts for retouching in Photoshop..The final panorama can be viewed at the website below.

Website: 70 Billion Pixels - Budapest (make sure to have the latest version of Silverlight installed)

Apple today unveiled a 27-inch LED Cinema Display with a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels. Featuring a built-in iSight video camera, microphone and speakers, powered USB 2.0 hub, and universal MagSafe connector, the new LED Cinema Display includes an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts the display brightness based on external lighting conditions. Available from september through the Apple Store, the 27-inch LED Cinema Display has a suggested retail price of $999.

Apple’s new Mac Pro line promises up to 50 percent greater performance than the previous generation. Featuring the latest quad-core and 6-core Intel Xeon processors, all-new ATI graphics and the option for up to four 512GB solid state drives, the new Mac Pro is the most powerful and configurable Mac ever made, the company says. The quad-core version will cost £1999, the 8-core configuration will be available for £2799, while configure-to-order options include 12-core versions using 2.66GHz and 2.93GHz Intel Xeon processors. Availability is slated for August.

The winners of the Student Focus Competition for the Sony World Photography Awards 2010 have been announced. Victoria Ines Dobaño and Rodrigo Terren Toro’s winning images, entitled Villa Epecuen, depict the overwhelming power of water. The students’ challenge was to produce a series of six photographs that explored the notion of ‘Power’. The 2011 Student Focus competition has now been launched.

The 30th edition of the PhotographyBB Online Magazine has just been released. Editor in Chief, Dave Seeram, commented “We’ve got another superb issue filled with photography tips for the nature photographer, a thought provoking look at where digital art sits in the world of ‘art’, and a tutorial on how photographers can make use of some cool Facebook automation features to better share their photos with the world.” PhotographyBB Online Magazine is a free publication with the goal of educating beginner to intermediate level photographers.

Express Insurance and world renowned photographer Ray Archer have teamed up to launch a new online competition in search of the best UK motocross photography. The theme of ‘Motocross’ encompasses every element of the sport, photography submitted could include a picture of a static bike, a shot of a professional rider in action or even a creative photo of a pair of gloves. Budding photographers should log onto Facebook and become a fan of Express Insurance UK. The closing date for entries into the competition is Sunday 10th October 2010. The first prize on offer is £250 worth of KTM Gear and an exclusive one-to-one photography lesson with Archer. The runner-up will receive a Flip HD Video Camera and a pair of tickets to a round of their choice at the 2011 Maxxis Motocross championships. Third prize is a pair of tickets to a round of their choice at the 2011 championship.

Simon Roberts, who was commissioned by the House of Commons to produce a series of artworks documenting this year’s election in the UK, will provide a guest lecture and workshop as part of a photography masterclass being offered at Nottingham Trent University (NTU). The course, being run from the University’s Bonington building, is aimed at enthusiasts and professionals and will focus on black and white landscape photography through the medium of the fine art print. The schedule will include portfolio advice, seminar presentations, darkroom techniques, one-to-one and group tutorials by landscape photographers, and guest lectures on landscape and documentary photography.

Albert de Bruijn has released “Portrait Effects”, a package of Adobe Lightroom presets, developed specifically for portrait photographers. The package is made up of 54 Develop Presets and 12 Adjustment Brush Presets and comes as a digital download for the price of US$24.95. The Develop Presets come grouped in 5 sets of effects: Toning, Lighting, Skin, Softness and Basic. The Adjustment Brush Presets get loaded under the adjustment brush and provide fine-tuning tools for skin tone, make-up and eye enhancements.

Website: Portrait FX for Adobe Lightroom

The Silver Eye Center for Photography has announced Fellowship 2010, an international photo competition. Now in its 11th year, the competition is open to all photographers, not just Silver Eye members. A $3,500 award and is open to all eligible photographers, while a $1,500 is open only to Pennsylvania residents (who may apply in both catagories). The juror of the competition is Deborah Klochko, Executive Director of the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego, California (see picture above). Entries must be postmarked or delivered on or before Friday, 27 August 2010 at 6 p.m. EST.

Website: Silver Eye

Color Confidence has announced that the launch of the PChOOD range of monitor hoods has been “one of their most successful product launches yet”, with “unprecedented post-launch customer interest”. The complete PChOOD range offers a selection of monitor hood solutions in a variety of sizes and designs for both PC and Macintosh, including the PChOOD Pro, the PC Laptop Hood and the Mac Laptop Hood. “The PChOOD range offers a definitive selection of monitor hoods which reduce glare and shield unwanted light from any monitor display and so improves on-screen colour consistency” Comments Simon Prais, Technical Director Colour Confidence. The PChOOD range is now in stock now and is available direct from www.ColorConfidence.com

The Creative Alliance, an alliance of six high-profile companies focused on the professional photography market, is partnering with Photokina and Koelnmesse to present educational sessions daily during Photokina 2010. The Creative Alliance Theater is located in Hall 4.1, stand I-010. Visitors can take advantage of seven educational sessions beginning hourly during the show from 11 AM. The schedule of sessions will be posted at The Creative Alliance Theater and is also available online in English and German.