Creaceed has released a Hydra plug-in for Lightroom 2. The HDR Plug-In is compatible with Lightroom 2 (32 and 64 bits). Hydra is a HDR imaging application, and with the plug-in, you can use the pictures from the Lightroom library to render HDR images. All features of Hydra’s stand-alone version are available in the plug-In. This update is free for all Hydra 2.x registered users.

Rollei has announced two entry-level cameras, the Rollei Compactline 103 and 203. The two models are identical except for the pixel count (10mp and 12mp, respectively). Both have 3x zoom lenses with a 35mm equivalent focal range of 35-105mm, 2.4” colour LCD screens, 21 scene modes and both offer 720p high-definition video at 30 frames per second (fps). The company also quotes a continuous shooting speed of 30fps for stills, but we suspect it is not offered at the cameras’ full resolution. Compatible with SD and SDHC memory cards, the Rollei Compactline 103 and 203 will become available from April, priced at €69.95 and €79.95, respectively.

A start-up called Noktor is planning to launch a 50mm f0.95 lens for Micro Four Thirds, which looks like the ideal portrait lens for the system, at least on paper. The Noktor HyperPrime 50mm f0.95 for Micro Four Thirds offers approximately the same angle of view (23°) and depth of field as a theoretical 100mm f1.9 lens would on a 35mm film camera.. Via Twitter, Noktor has already posted a couple of samples that were allegedly taken with the Noktor HyperPrime 50mm f0.95, but these are of low resolution and are devoid of any EXIF data.

Update: the Noktor HyperPrime 50mm f0.95 has been announced - it’s for real.

Sanho’s HyperDrive Album is a portable photo backup device with up to 640GB storage capacity and a transfer speed of 2GB per minute. Sanho claims that it can decode and display true raw images from “virtually any digital camera” on its 4.8” WVGA LCD screen. Incremental Backup allows the download of only new data on the card or USB device, skipping previously saved data. The battery allegedly provides enough power for up to 200GB of downloads per charge. Travel Photographer of the Year, Lorne Resnick commented, “I found the HyperDrives in use to be flawless. I shot more than 5,000 images and downloaded all of them without a hitch. The actual speed of the drives was by far the most impressive. The difference it makes in the quality of your travel cannot be discounted.” The HyperDrive Album is available now at the following manufacturer’s suggested retail prices: 160GB:$349, 250GB:$399, 320GB:$449, 500GB:$549, 640GB:$599.

Website: HyperDrive Album

Beyond Borders is an exhibition of the works of graduates of the LCC’s Photography MA, a course completed entirely online. The exhibition is to be held at East London’s prestigious photographic gallery, theprintspace. Amongst the amazing fusion of work are stories such as Belarus seen through the eyes of an American photographer living in Sweden and a disparate collection of Londoners photographing their own visions of the city, shot on everything from medium format cameras to mobile phones. The exhibition opens at theprintspace - located at 74 Kingsland Road, London, E2 8DL - with a private view on 10 March 7pm-10pm and runs to 1 April from 9am-7pm Monday-Friday.

Leica’s North American fans are going to be given a rare opportunity to see and try out the Leica M9 (pictured) and the Leica S2 courtesy of a road show kicking off on 18 March. The road show has 21 M-events in 17 US and 4 Canadian cities, and 19 S-events, out of which 2 are in Canada. M-events are $99 per participant, while the cost of entry to an S-event is $149. Click through / read on for locations and dates.

Manfrotto has launched its new 521LX LANC camcorder remote control for videographers. The 521LX uses Sony and Canon’s widely implemented LANC protocol to allow interaction and command over LANC-enabled camcorders. The new remote control can be updated in the event of new camcorder features becoming LANC-enabled as it features a USB port for connection to your PC. The new Manfrotto 521LX is available from March 1st 2010 at an RRP of £339.95.

The 12.1-megapixel Pentax X90 digital superzoom camera boasts a 26x zoom lens offering a focal-length coverage of 26-676mm in 35mm terms. The Pentax X90 incorporates the Pentax-original CCD-shift-type Shake Reduction system to assure sharply focused, blur-free images even under demanding conditions prone to camera shake. The X90 comes equipped with an electronic viewfinder of 200 000 dots and a newly incorporated dioptre adjustment mechanism. Manual, Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority modes are all on board to serve the needs of the creative photographer. And in addition to shooting twelve-megapixel stills - or 5-megapixel images at 11 up to frames per second -, the Pentax X90 can also capture 720p HD video clips. Thanks to a large-capacity lithium-ion battery, the X90’s battery life is approximately 50 percent longer than that of its predecessor. Available from the end of March 2010, the Pentax X90 has a recommended retail price of £329.99.

The twelve-megapixel Pentax Optio W90 is a heavy-duty water-, dust-, freeze- and shockproof digital compact camera that also provides an all-new Digital Microscope mode. Combining a macro shooting capability from one centimetre away with the Digital Zoom function, the Optio W90’s new Digital Microscope mode delivers a magnified view of miniscule subjects difficult to observe closely with the naked eye. Also, Pntax has upgraded the Optio W90’s underwater picture-taking performance to six metres (compared to five metres for its predecessor) and for up to two hours of continuous operation. In addition, the Pentax Optio W90 can withstand a fall from a height of 1.2 metres without damage to the body, and is also freezeproof down to –10°C. Upgrtaded face detection, 720p HD movie recording and a 28-140mm equivalent 5x optical zoom round off the features list. Available from the end of March 2010, the Pentax Optio W90 has a recommended retail price of £269.99.

Prix Pictet 2009 Commission winner Ed Kashi will show his photographs from Madagascar at London’s Diemar / Noble Photography gallery from 20 April to 1 May 2010. Kashi was one of twelve leading international photographers shortlisted for the 2009 Prix Pictet, the world’s only major annual photography award to focus on sustainability. Nadav Kander, the 2009 Prix Pictet winner, received the CHF100,000 award from Kofi Annan, honorary president of the Prix Pictet, in October 2009. At the same time Kashi was invited to produce a portfolio of images from Madagascar, where Pictet & Cie had decided to support a sustainability programme relating to ‘Earth’, the theme of the 2009 award. Kashi, who travelled to Madagascar in January 2010 said, “My work has led me to many places on this earth and it’s critically clear our world is under tremendous stress.  The relationship we hold as human beings with the earth, and the issues that are raised with regard to how we go about conducting this vital relationship, have developed into core themes within my work. Nowhere are the effects of this dysfunctional relationship more evident than in Madagascar.” The Diemar / Noble Photography gallery is located at 66/67 Wells Street, London W1T 3PY.

Announced today, Fotobabble allows people to add voice to photos in seconds with just a few clicks on a web browser or an iPhone. Simply upload a photo and record your voice directly through your computer’s microphone to create a talking photo. On your iPhone, after downloading the free Fotobabble app, select an existing photo or a snap a new one, hit record and you’re done. Whether using a computer or your iPhone, you can share talking photos via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, or embed them into a blog or website free of charge. Businesses can create Fotobabbles to promote a product, to more effectively engage with customers online, or to increase the number of visitors to their website.

Website: Fotobabble

According to Sigma, FLD glass, which has a performace equal to fluorite glass but costs less, has been adopted and used in Sigma’s new high-performance lenses. FLD glass offers the same optical performance as fluorite, at an affordable price. Also, the density of FLD glass is lower than traditional optical glass, ensuring a lighter construction of large aperture lenses. FLD glass has been incorporated into the Sigma 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM - the widest lens available for digital SLR cameras with APS-C sized sensors, pictured -, the Sigma APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM and the Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM.

The Leaf Aptus-II / Aptus digital backs have gained significant workflow options with the extended tethered support in the latest release of Capture One 5.1. This latest Capture One release extends tethered and raw image support to a wide range of Leaf digital backs, including the Leaf Aptus-II 10, Aptus-II 7, Aptus-II 6, Aptus-II 5, AFi-II 10, AFi-II 7, AFi-II 6, Aptus 65S, Aptus 54S, AFi 7, AFi 6, AFi 5, Aptus 75, Aptus 65, Aptus 22 and Aptus 17, in addtion to the Aptus-II 10, Aptus-II 8 (pictured), Aptus II 7, Aptus-II 6, Aptus-II 5, AFi-II 10, AFi-II 7 and AFi-II 6.

Photo and video sharing service DPHOTO has seamlessly integrated high-definition video into its premium photo sharing and backup solution. This enables albums and slideshows to come to life, seamlessly combining large high-quality photos and high-definition video. Allowing users to upload large, high-definition videos to their account in almost any format, DPHOTO simplifies the sharing process and also optimises each viewer’s experience by automatically displaying video in the most appropriate resolution based on the viewer’s computer specifications. In addition to its sharing capabilities, DPHOTO also provides remote backup protection for your original hi-resolution photos and videos. With a Pro account priced at $90 per year, users can store an unlimited number of photos and videos, with each video being up to five minutes long and 500mb in size.

Focus on Imaging 2010 marks the fist time that British Photographer James Madelin will be showcasing his award-winning invention, the orbis ring flash, on home soil. Designed to be a compact and affordable alternative to expensive studio ring flash systems, the orbis ring flash was first conceived in James’ garden shed. Now manufactured in New Zealand, has secured global distribution a year after launch. James Madelin and the orbis ring flash can be found on stand C41 in Hall 9 & 10 at Focus on Imaging at Birmingham NEC, 7 - 10 March 2010.

Explorer Richard Wiese has chosen the Epson P-7000 multimedia photo viewer (read review) to back up his photographs during his Kilimanjaro expedition. After the day’s climb, Wiese would insert the card from his camera into the viewer and swiftly download several hundred images. Zooming in to confirm focus and fine detail, he could preview both RAW and JPEG images, and make quick edits if needed. With the option of video and audio output, he’d then set up a slide show of the day’s images for the entire group to view. “With the Epson P-7000 viewer, I never worry about losing photos,” he said.

Create Positivity is a non-profit organisation whose first project will see 8 UK photographers travel to South America and teach a 2 week photography course to underprivileged children. They will provide the children with all the equipment and educational materials they need to get a grasp of photography and the course will end with their work being put on display. The project, entitled Portraits of another life has been inspired by studies which show that by having a creative output children tend to steer away from antisocial behavior allowing them to create community and develop their skills for future life. If you agree with the project’s aims, you can make a donation via the website below.

Website: Create Positivity

LaCie today announced the next generation line of network storage devices for small to medium-sized businesses: the LaCie d2 Network 2, LaCie 2big Network 2 and LaCie 5big Network 2. These complete backup solutions are Time Machine compatible and include Genie Backup Manager Pro (Windows) and Intego Backup Manager Pro (Mac). With these applications you can make encrypted, compressed backups, restore files, and even perform disaster recovery. The LaCie 2big Network 2 and LaCie 5big Network 2 feature hot-swappable disks and RAID 1 for redundancy, and the 5big Network 2 offers RAID 6 for added security. Backed up with a 3-year limited warranty, the LaCie d2 Network 2, 2big Network 2, and 5big Network 2 are available through the LaCie Online Store, LaCie Reseller+, LaCie Storage Partner, starting at the suggested retail price of £149.