The Bookshop at The Photographers’ Gallery in London is celebrating one of the most iconic products of the twentieth century, the Polaroid, by displaying work by a number of renowned photographers who have taken Polaroid photographs, and also plans to sell a new Polaroid format film starting early 2010.The last instant film manufactured by Polaroid was produced in 2008, with an expiry date of October 2009. To mark its expiration, national newspaper The Observer gave eight leading contemporary photographers Polaroid film and cameras for a day - Harry Borden (USA, b.1965), Nan Goldin (USA, b.1953), Tom Hunter (UK, b.1965), Mary McCartney (UK, b.1969), Martin Parr (UK, b.1952), Rankin (UK, b.1966), Lord Snowdon (UK, b.1930) and Sam Taylor-Wood (UK, b.1967). The resulting images are on display at The Photographers’ Gallery in London, 16 – 18 Ramillies St, W1, until 31 January 2010. Some of these unique one-off prints are available to purchase from Print Sales at The Photographers’ Gallery..Also, the Photographers’ Gallery Bookshop promises to be one of the first places in the world to sell the new Polaroid format instant film developed within the framework of The Impossible Project, from early 2010.

Ricoh has announced the GR DIGITAL III x Stussy, a limited-edition collaboration model with US fashion brand manufacturer Stussy. Ricoh has never before collaborated with a brand to offer a customised camera in their GR Digital line of professional compacts. This co-branded GR Digital III, which is released as part of Stussy’s 30th anniversary special projects, features royal blue accents and body parts. Moreover, the labels of the buttons and other controls are in the Stussy font. The “XXX” logo marking the 30th anniversary is also displayed on the flash cover and the exit screen when the power is turned off. Limited quantities of the Ricoh GR Digital III x Stussy camera will be available for purchase through Stussy Chapter stores from February 2010.

Via DCVIEWS

Mamiya has announced an iPhone app that transforms an Apple iPhone or iPod Touch into a remote image viewer for users of the new Mamiya DM system. Now, while the photographer is shooting in a tethered mode, other people on set – the creative director, client, stylist, etc. – can watch via a standard Wi-Fi network, without hindering the movement of the photographer or crowding around one monitor. The images are hi-res and the software allows viewers to pan and zoom using their compatible Apple device. Note that this app is essentally the same Leaf Capfure Remote application that has recently been released by Leaf Imaging for users of Leaf digital backs and camera systems.

Likno Software has released a new Adobe Air version of its software, Photo Frame Show. Photo Frame Show is an intuitive program that allows people who wish to enhance their digital photos to do so by adding original and impressive frames to them in a fast an easy manner. The new version offers more advanced features, faster rendering, support for a wider range of operating systems, and a more user-friendly functionality, the company claims. The AIR application can be downloaded from the website below.

Website: Photo Frame Show

A new, 26-gigapixel panoramic image of Dresden, Germany, is now the world’s largest-resolution photograph. Taken from the rooftop of the “Haus der Presse” building, the giant panorama is made up of 1,665 individual shots captured with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera and a 400mm lens. This massive number of shots were taken with the help of a photo-robot, in the course of less than three hours, but the processing took 94 hours using a computer with 16 processors and a main memory cache of 48 Gigabytes.

Website: Gigapixel-Dresden.de

Almost exactly a month after the release of Lightroom 2.6 and Adobe Camera Raw 5.6 Release Candidates, Adobe posted the final versions. ACR 5.6 adds support for a range of new cameras, and replaces the original one that was installed with Adobe Photoshop CS4, Adobe Photoshop Elements 8, and Adobe Premiere Elements 8 software. Adobe Lightroom 2.6 also provides support for new cameras such as the Canon EOS 7D and the Nikon D3s, and includes corrections for issues introduced by previous Lightroom 2 releases.

Website: Adobe - Latest Product Updates

Imikimi has launched a new iPhone app that lets you frame your photos using over a million user-created frames, and then e-mail them or post them on Facebook or Twitter. You can frame photos from the Apple iPhone camera, your Photo Library or your Facebook account. Imikimi for iPhone offers excellent Facebook integration including friend tagging, the developer says. The app is available at the iPhone App Store.

Website: Imikimi for iPhone

ForestWander Nature Photography has partnered with hundreds of affiliates to offer thousands of extreme nature photography adventure gear products. This grand opening of the ForestWander Extreme Nature Photography Adventure Gear Store is seeking to help nature explorers and adventurers be prepared to not only survive their expedition, but to document it in high resolution digital detail, the company says.

Website: ForestWander Store

The innovative Don Zeck lens caps for long telephoto lenses, which used to be manufactured for Canon lenses only, are now available for most high-end AF-S / VR Nikkors. Don Zeck lens caps have been engineered for superior protection from scratches, dust, rain and other hazards. The lens caps are equipped with a collapsible low-profile handle, so that the cap can easily be mounted or removed while the hood is in either the shooting or stored position. The Don Zeck lens cap is now available for the 200mm F2.0 VR, 300mm F2.8 VR, 300mm F2.8 AF-S, 400mm F2.8 VR, 400mm F2.8 AF-S, 500mm F4 VF, 500mm F4 AF-S, 600mm F4 VR and the 200-400mm F4 VR Nikkors, in addition to a number of large Canon EF lenses. The “Don Zeck Lens Cap” sells for $54.95 and comes with a 30 day money back guarantee as well as a lifetime warranty for materials and workmanship.

Website: Don Zeck

LaCie has announced what appears to be the industry’s first dual hard disk RAID storage solution based on the new SuperSpeed USB (3.0) standard. LaCie’s 2Big USB 3.0 will be available in up to 4TB capacities and is bundled with backup software for both Mac and PC users. Developed for users that require sizeable data flow and fast storage products – such as video professionals who needs high bandwidth, the 2Big USB 3.0 will let users transfer a high-definition uncompressed video at speeds up to 275MB/s burst read transfer speed, or perform real time streaming and editing of multiple HD files simultaneously, the company says. The LaCie 2big USB 3.0 will be available in early 2010 and will be showcased at CES 2010, January 7-10, 2009 in both the USB-IF Pavilion (South Hall #30769) and Symwave’s private suite at the Las Vegas Hilton (Suite #2900).

Website: LaCie

Three Songs, No Flash! is a new book from Rocky Nook, written by concert photographer Loe Beerens. From punk to classical and everything in between, Loe covers how the music industry is organized, how to get access, the right people to befriend, and the proper etiquette of concert photography, the publisher says. Equipment selection and shooting techniques for each of the major musical instruments are covered, as well as capturing the peak action, post-production techniques, shooting in low light, and marketing your images. The 152-page book retails for $24.95.

Website: Three Songs, No Flash!

Competico has a special holiday contest with a cash prize of $50,000. You have until 12 January 2010 to submit your best holiday snaps to the competition. Note that the entry fee is $100 per photo, but if you enter the contest before 9:00pm EST today, you can enter an additional holiday photo for this contest for free.. Winners will be based on the combination of votes from other Competico players and votes from the Judging Panel. The winners will be announced on 15 January 2010.

Website: Competico Winter Holiday Photo Contest

Hireacamera.com has announced a Christmas offer on the whole of its rental base of equipment up to Tuesday, 22 December 2009. Clients can hire a camera, camcorder or any lenses, pay for a weekend and have the equipment up to 4th January 2010. To take advantage of this offer, call 01892 603440 between 9am and 6pm. All equipment is subject to availability.

Website: HireACamera.com

Apple has released Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 2.7, adding system-level support for a number of new digital cameras. Newly supported models include the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, EOS 7D and PowerShot G11, and the Nikon D3s, D300s (pictured) and D3000. The update is available for Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) and 10.6 (Snow Leopard), and affects Apple Aperture 2 as well as iPhoto ‘08 and ‘09. The update is available via Software Update in the Apple menu of Leopard / Snow Leopard.

Via Rob Galbraith

Kenro has announced the UK release of a new range of cotton backgrounds. Measuring 2.4m x 2.7m (with certain colours also being available in 2.9m x 5m size), these handmade, washable cotton backgrounds have a sewn helm on the short side for a background support bar. They are compatible with the Kenro background support systems and will also fit supports from other manufacturers. There are 19 colours to chose from. Most of these cotton backgrounds cost £56.87, while the larger sizes are available at £91.94.

Website: Kenro

Colour Confidence has today announced its appointment as the exclusive distributor for the full range of PChOOD monitor hoods in the UK and key European markets. “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. Ideal for photographers and graphic designers, the full range is available now through the extensive Confident Reseller network or direct from Colour Confidence’s website.

Website: Colour Confidence

Canon has issued firmware updates for its 1D Mark III and 1Ds Mark III digital SLR cameras. The new versions (1.3.0 and 1.2.0 respectively) add support for the WFT-E2 II wireless file transmitter, which was announced back in October and released earlier this month. To download the firmware updates, visit one of the websites below.

Website: Canon EOS 1D Mark III Firmware Update
Website: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III Firmware Update

Canon has released a firmware update for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II DSLR camera. Version 1.2.4 adds support for the WFT-E4 II wireless file transmitter, and fixes an issue with very long exposures using the Bulb setting. To download the newest 5D Mark II firmware update, visit the website below.

Website: Canon EOS 5D Mark II Firmware Update

Nikon has released version 2.2.4 of its Capture NX software. The new version adds compatibility with 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows 7 and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista, and fixes a number of bugs. For an exhaustive list of fixes and to download the update, visit the website below. Note that this update is Windows only!

Website: Nikon Capture NX 2.2.4

Lupus Imaging & Media – worldwide license partner of the AgfaPhoto Holding GmbH for several analogue photographic products - today announced that it has selected Ferrania USA as its exclusive North American distributor of AgfaPhoto branded films, ready-to-use cameras, analogue cameras and battery products. The AgfaPhoto product lines being distributed by Ferrania USA will include AgfaPhoto Vista 35mm Colour Print Film ISO 100, 200, 400 available in 12, 24, and 36 exposures;  AgfaPhoto CT Precisa 100 35mm Colour Transparency Film and AgfaPhoto APX 100 Professional Black-and-White Film;  AgfaPhoto LeBox single-use cameras and AgfaPhoto Analogue Camera Gift Sets. Alkaline and rechargeable batteries and chargers will complete the condensed AgfaPhoto product range to be launched in the US market.

Website: Ferrania