Hoya Corporation are saying they will “not shut down” the Pentax business, but admit they definitely need a strong electronics company as a partner. Pentax currently has ties with Samsung, but apparently Hoya are not sure if the Sourh Korean company would be the ideal partner for the future. Bloomber quotes Hoya’s Chief Operating Officer Hiroshi Hamada as saying, “I don’t know whether we’ll go with Samsung or somebody else, but I can say that we’ll have a deeper relationship with some electronics guys”.

Source: Bloomberg via Amateur Photographer

Canon has admitted that “in images captured by continuous shooting [with the Canon EOS 7D digital SLR camera], and under certain conditions, barely noticeable traces of the immediately preceding frame may be visible”, and said that they are planning to release a firmware update to address this issue. The company has not disclosed exactly when it would post the firmware update, saying only that it would be posted on their website.

International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY) is reminding interested photographers that the submission deadline is getting closer and closer. You have until 30 November to enter your work. This year’s top prize is £5000 plus a Royal Photographic Society gold medal. Additionally - and uniquely among photography competitions - they offer every photographer who enters the chance to receive a personal email critique of their entry from the judges, once the winners are announced. There are seven categories, with awards for single images as well as portfolios. For more information and to enter, visit the website below.

Website: IGPOTY

Kodak apparently believes “It’s Time to Smile”, as this will be the tagline for its new, fully integrated marketing initiative. Citing recent research that has revealed relationships are suffering across America and people feel lonelier than before, Kodak has started a new campaign demonstrating “the brand’s dedication to strengthening and deepening relationships through sharing images”. The campaign began with social media activities supported by public relations in summer 2009. Kodak has announced three new social media applications that are making it easier and more fun to “share smiles” and photos. These include two Facebook applications, Kodak Konga Line and Kodak Smile Meter, and one iPhone app called Kodak Smile Maker.

Along with FocalPoint 2 and PhotoTune 3, onOne also announced today its new Plug-in Suite 5 for Adobe Photoshop. Plug-in Suite 5 includes both of the afore-mentioned plug-ins, plus PhotoFrame 4.5 Professional Edition, PhotoTools 2.5 Professional Edition, Genuine Fractals 6 Professional Edition and MaskPro 4. With support for Photoshop CS2, CS3 and CS4 the onOne Software Plug-in Suite 5 now includes the new onOne Panel which provides quick access to all products, Windows 64 bit support and the ability to access select plug-ins from within Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 and Apple Aperture 2.1. The new Plug-in Suite 5 will be available in November to new users for $599.95. You can, however, save $200 by pre-ordering the suite before 5 November 2009. Existing users of Plug-in Suite version 1, 2, 3 or 4 can upgrade to Plug-in Suite 5 for $199.95.

onOne today announced FocalPoint 2, an Adobe Photoshop plug-in for simulating selective focus and shallow depth of field. Photographers can create an allegedly authentic out-of-focus look with aperture shaped highlights with the new blur algorithm that accurately matches the blur a real lens would create, the company says. To assist photographers in getting the most out of FocalPoint 2, new lens presets are included that simulate desirable fast aperture lenses. FocalPoint 2 will be available in November to new users for $159.95 and can also be purchased as part of the new Plug-in Suite 5 for $599.95. Existing users of FocalPoint 1 (read review) can upgrade to FocalPoint 2 for $99.95.

onOne Software today announced PhotoTune 3, an Adobe Photoshop plug-in for optimising digital photos.  The improved PhotoTune Wizard walks new users through the optimising process in two steps with no need to understand colour theory or complex controls like levels or curves. PhotoTune 3 also offers access to advanced adjustments for pro users who want more control. New features include automatic correction featuring the imsense’s eye-fidelity technology, professional controls and intuitive balck-and-white conversions. Plus, PhotoTune 3 now supports integration with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and Apple Aperture so that it can be accessed inside the workflow applications used every day. PhotoTune 3 will be available in November to new users for $159.95 and can also be purchased as part of the new Plug-in Suite 5 for $599.95. Existing users of PhotoTune 1 or 2 can upgrade to PhotoTune 3 for $99.95 or can upgrade to the Plug-in Suite 5 for $499.95.

Canon has posted its seventh straight quarterly profit drop, Bloomberg reports. The extended profit decline is blamed on a strong yen, which has hit Canon particularly badly, given that about 80% of the company’s sales are generated overseas. Having said that, Canon is still optimistic about its fourth-quarter prospects, saying the profit decline is expected to turn into growth eventually. Bloomberg also remarks that the company’s profit losses have mainly stemmed from the business machines division, with the camera operations actually enjoying a growth of 5.5%. The problem is that Canon’s prosperous camera business is much smaller than its ailing business machines division, and the growth achieved by the former cannot offset the dramatic decline the latter is facing.

Via Bloomberg

SanDisk has unveiled two 32GB Memory Sticks, the SanDisk Ultra Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo and Memory Stick PRO Duo, for use in Sony digital cameras, Handycam camcorders and the Sony PSP system. Based on SanDisk’s internal testing, the Ultra Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo is capable of 30MB / second read and write speeds, although actual performance will depend on the host device. The 32GB SanDisk Memory Stick PRO Duo card is shipping worldwide now priced at $229.99, while the 32GB SanDisk Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo card (MSRP: $279.99) will be shipping worldwide in October.

Datacolor has announced that it will begin shipping its new Spyder3Print SR (Strip Reader) spectrocolorimeter as a separate product skew to support photographers and graphic artists currently using the company’s Spyder3Elite and Spyder3Pro monitor calibration systems. Spyder3Print SR is a new spectrocolorimeter that incorporates significant advancements in ICC printer profile technology and a new software algorithm ensures fast, easy and accurate measurements for outstanding colour and black-and-white prints, the company claims.  The new Spyder3Print SR is currently available at photo retail and specialty outlets and has a suggested list price of $339.

GiSTEQ has unveiled the PhotoTrackr Mini DPL900, a miniature device you can use to geotag your pictures. Unlike the - bigger and slower - original PhototTrackr, the new Mini DPL900 is fully compatible with the Mac and offers raw image support too. With a size comparable to that of a USB pen drive, the PhotoTrackr Mini is less intimidating than its predecessor, and is also cheaper at $69.

Website: PhotoTrackr

If you purchase any Walkabout satchel, backpack or tote from the National Geographic Walkabout range of bags via Bogen Imaging, you will receive a free National Geographic Tundra Monopod worth £29.95. The National Geographic Tundra Monopod features a a quick-release system and a payload of up to 1kg. The offer is available while stocks last, and valid on purchases made via an authorised Bogen Imaging UK dealer.

Bogen Imaging has announced a special offer on the SL700 Arctic Butterfly brush.  With every SL700 Arctic Butterfly brush ordered, Bogen will give you a free Mini Kit worth £29.95 including VAT. The mini kit contains 3 sensor cleaning swabs, and Visible Dust’s VDust Plus formula fluid. The offer is available while stocks last.

Jessops.com celebrates its ten-year anniversary with 10 days of 10 deals across the whole product range. These offers started on Saturday, 24 October and change daily. Today’s deal is a saving of £50 on the new Nikon Coolpix S640 digital camera, billed by Nikon as “the world’s fastest Coolpix”.  Jessops have also shaved £10 off the SANDISK U2 SD HC 8GB memory card. Additionally, Jessops is giving out a £10 discount voucher to anyone purchasing any item from Jessops.com this week, which you can use when you spend over £150.

In addition to the two new optics, Lensbaby has also unveiled a step-up ring / lens hood that allows Lensbaby users to mount 52mm filters, while also taking care of flare. The Lensbaby Step-up/Shade has been developed for use with the Swap Optic System of the Lensbaby Composer. “Screw your Step-up/ Shade onto the 37mm threads on the front of your Lensbaby optic. With no filter attached, the lens shade provides 1.44 inches of depth from the lip of the shade to the optic’s surface. You can screw any 52mm filter onto the Step-up/Shade,” the company explains.

Website: Lensbaby Step-Up/Shade

Lensbaby has released two new optics, the Lensbaby Fisheye and the Lensbaby Soft Focus Optic. Lensbaby’s new Fisheye is their most complex optic to date, featuring a focal length of 12mm, angle of view of 160° and drop-in aperture disks. The Soft Focus Optic creates images with an overall soft and diffused look. In addition to a set of standard round aperture disks, which allow you to take photographs with a classic soft focus look, the Soft Focus Optic also comes with three special multi-hole apertures which combine one large aperture surrounded by smaller holes. This hole pattern creates a sharp underlying image with a soft overlay, the company says.

Fujifilm Professional has moved quickly to dispel rumours that the company is about to withdraw production of its FP-100B and FP-3000B black and white and FP-100C colour instant film. Fujifilm’s Senior Product Manager for Professional Film, Russ Gunn, explained the announcement: “It was brought to our attention that a number of websites were carrying ‘news’ of the discontinuation of some of Fujifilm’s instant film. I would like to confirm that all current formats of FP-100B and FP-3000B black and white instant film and FP-100C colour instant film will remain in production and we have no plans to discontinue any of them.”

Artloco Gallery is looking for amateur and professional photographers resident within the South East of England to submit work for a photography exhibition. Artloco is a new community gallery opening in Ticehurst, East Sussex in December 2009. Their first exhibition will focus on photography by local photographers. If interested, send an email to Sallie Court’s address, [email protected] or visit her website.

Website: Artloco

Canon USA has announced instant rebates, ranging from $20 to $500, on select EF/EF-S lenses and Speedlites. The instant rebate programme runs until 16 January, and eligible products must be purchased by an end customer from a participating authorised Canon USA dealer or reseller in the 50 United States, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico. Used or refurbished products are not eligible. The offer is valid for US residents only. Click through / read on for the full list of participating products.

Website: Canon USA Promotions

Mamiya have officially announced the Mamiya 645DF medium-format single-lens reflex camera body. The camera’s prototype was first showcased at the Photo Imaging Expo (PIE) held earlier this year. The final version is quite a bit different to the prototype, being essentially the same thing as the Phase One 645DF announced last month. It features the same selectable dual shutter system with available flash sync speeds of up to 1/1600 of a second, when one of the three new leaf-shutter lenses developed in cooperation with Schneider Kreuznach is mounted. The built-in focal plane shutter, on the other hand, can be used with any of 15 existing Mamiya 645AF system lenses. The Mamiya 645DF camera body is compatible with digital backs from Leaf, Mamiya, Phase One and Sinar. The suggested retail price for the 645DF camera (body only) is $5,990.