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Nikon is planning to release a “new concept” SLR camera according to President Makoto Kimura. Available either this year or in 2011, the new Nikon hybrid may use the same mirrorless structure as rival cameras from Panasonic, Olympus, Samsung and Sony. According to the interview by Bloomberg, Nikon’s entry into the hybrid market will also possibly “have an enhanced function for video recording”.

The Sony Cyber-shot WX5, TX9 and T99 compact digital cameras have been unveiled today. The WX5 and TX9 are the first Cyber-shots to offer 3D Sweep Panorama. The WX5 and TX9 also feature a 12.2 megapixel Exmor R CMOS Sensor for low noise performance, 1080i Full HD movie recording, Superior Auto mode and Background defocus mode. The 14.1 megapixel Cyber-shot T99 offers Sweep Panorama and 720p HD movie recording. The Sony Cyber-shot WX5, TX9 and T99 digital cameras will be available from mid-September 2010.

Color Confidence has launched two powerful product bundles for the photographic market, which deliver a complete, accurate capture-to-monitor-to-print solution. The Color Confidence Profiler Photo consists of the Color Confidence Profiler and the X-Rite ColorChecker Passport. “Both ensure that photographers can capture their shots, view their digital images and print them with absolute peace of mind when it comes to colour accuracy and is a further example of our striving to be a true one-stop-shop for all things photographic.” said Geoffrey Clements, Managing Director of Color Confidence. Both packages are in stock and available now.

Nikon has published new images from Space, some of which were captured with the Nikon D3S digital SLR camera. In 2009, NASA ordered eleven D3S cameras and seven AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED lenses for use in recording activities aboard the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. The D3S cameras were the same products available to consumers with no special modifications, and they were delivered to the ISS via the Space Shuttle Discovery launched on April 5, 2010. To date, NASA has captured more than 700,000 images with Nikon equipment carried into space.

AKVIS LightShop 3 lets you create an infinite number of amazing light effects. Version 3.0 has improved compatibility with Windows 7 and Mac OS X 10.6. 64-bit, and now works with Adobe Photoshop CS4/CS5 64-bit. AKVIS LightShop costs $97 USD.

Explore the highlights and hidden delights of the languid and exotic state of Kerala on a new Better Travel Photography photo tour. The tour includes custom tuition from Steve Davey, which takes the form of illustrated talks, group practical sessions and work critiques. The tour departs from Cochin, India on the 24 November for 14 days, and costs £1395 excluding flights.

Lexar have just launched the “Take the Next Shot” sweepstakes on Facebook. One random winner will receive their choice of a Nikon D300s with 16-85mm VR lens kit or a Canon EOS 7D with EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens kit, as well as two 16GB Professional 600x CF cards and the choice of a Professional UDMA Dual-Slot Card Reader of a UDMA FireWire 800 Reader. Ten other winners will be chosen at random and review the choice of a Professional 300x 16GB CF card or a Professional 133x 16GB SDHC card.

To enter, you only need to become a fan of the Lexar Facebook page (www.facebook.com/lexarmedia), enter through the sweepstakes tab, and send your best picture to [email protected]. The sweepstakes runs from July 1 through July 31.

Exposure: England is a photographic exploration of the Yorkshire Dales in England. From September 11-18, roughly a dozen photographers of a wide variety of backgrounds and skills will live together in a small village in Arkengarthdale in order to develop a collective impression of the Dales. Any parties interested in participating as an Exposure: England photographer are invited to complete an application online by 21 July 2010.

GearGuard is a new a series of camera and equipment security devices that provide photographers with a theft prevention system for their gear. The flagship products in this new line include the GearGuard Camera Body Lock and the GearGuard Bag Lock, both of which are designed to safeguard a camera from the constant snatch-and-grab threat faced by photographers. Both the GearGuard Camera Body Lock and the Bag Lock (which is sold as a set of two units) are available for $9.95.

PicTreat.com makes it fast and easy to instantly retouch any photograph. With a single click, PicTreat.com magically removes unsightly skin flaws, like blotchiness and blemishes, removes red-eye and auto-corrects the image color to produce the best photo. PicTreat.com is completely free and no registration is required.

A free software update is now available for the X-Rite ColorChecker Passport. Version 1.0.2 is fully compatible with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3, improves color extraction for better profile accuracy, and improves patch detection. X-Rite’s ColorChecker Passport device is a powerful “capture to edit” color solution for any photographer looking for more accurate, consistent color and creative flexibility in their digital photography Raw workflow.

Samsung has partnered with leading aerial photographer Jason Hawkes to capture the artistic brilliance of London and its famous landmarks from above after dark, using Samsung’s new EX1 camera. Hawkes travelled across the city by helicopter taking images with the new EX1, using its impressive capabilities for taking shots in low light conditions. Hawkes commented “The EX1 is a very impressive and intuitive compact camera, with a great build. It has a remarkable set of features, such as the bright f/1.8 Schneider lens, which would be valuable for any photography enthusiast, and I was pleased to be able to test the extent of its capabilities during the low-light conditions on the shoot. The swivelling AMOLED screen on the back of the camera is a great feature, and proved useful in the helicopter during the shoot. And finally, the ability to work with RAW files was also a real bonus for a camera within this category – until now this has often remained within the domain of the pro models.”

Read our Samsung EX1 Review

The inaugural Democracy Photo Challenge asks people around the world to complete the phrase “Democracy is…” through digital photos. Entries will be accepted online from July 7 through July 28. An independent jury will announce 36 finalists August 19, and the public will select 12 winners during a global online vote beginning August 19 - August 26.  The winners will be announced on the United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Democracy, September 15, with the winning photographs exhibited at the UN in New York.

The Ricoh GXR S10 Kit is a new camera kit that includes the GXR body and S10 24-72 mm F2.5-4.4 VC camera unit. The GXR+S10 KIT is the second GXR and camera unit kit product, following the popular GXR+P10 KIT.

The HP Large Format Photo Negative application allows professional photographers to produce fine-art quality prints or hardcopy image archives. “HP’s breakthrough innovation gives fine art photography printmakers an easier way to transform their digital files into high-quality, physical originals of their work, addressing one of the key needs we heard from this community,” said Santiago Morera from HP. The Large Format Photo Negative application, developed by HP Color Scientist and photographer Angel Albarran, offers one of the simplest, least expensive and highest-quality options available on the market today.

HDR Expose is a new software application for the creation and editing of HDR images. Replacing HDR PhotoStudio, HDR Expose offers new features that include the addition of interactive HDR histogram, digital color readout, multiple ghost reduction options, plug-ins for Adobe Lightroom and Apple Aperture, and a sleek, intuitive user interface. All current HDR PhotoStudio customers are eligible for a free upgrade to HDR Expose. Starting July 12, 2010, HDR Expose will be available for purchase at a list price of $149. A special introductory launch price for HDR Expose of $99 is available through July 31, 2010 and a free 30-day trial version is also available.

Firmware version 1.0.8 for the EOS Rebel T2i / 550D DSLR camera has been released, incorporating the following fixes.

- Fixes a phenomenon in which the set aperture moves unexpectedly when shooting movies in manual exposure mode using some Canon lenses (such as macro lenses).

The Version 1.0.8 firmware is for cameras with firmware up to Version 1.0.7. If the camera’s firmware is already Version 1.0.8, it is not necessary to update the firmware.

Canon EOS Rebel T2i / 550D Firmware 1.0.8

Firmware version 1.0.8 for the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV has been released, incorporating the following fixes.

- Fixes a phenomenon in which the set aperture moves unexpectedly when shooting movies in manual exposure mode using some Canon lenses (such as macro lenses).
- Corrects misspellings in the French and Spanish menus for applicable products.

The Version 1.0.8 firmware is for cameras with firmware up to Version 1.0.6. If the camera’s firmware is already Version 1.0.8, it is not necessary to update the firmware. Note that cameras with the Version 1.0.8 firmware cannot be downgraded to a previous firmware version (such as Version 1.0.6).

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Firmware 1.0.8