The Sony Cyber-shot W230 is a new 12 megapixel compact camera with a 4x, 30mm wide-angle optical zoom lens. The Sony W230 features a 3 inch LCD screen, Optical SteadyShot, Intelligent Scene Recognition, Enhanced Face Detection and Smile Shutter technologys. The Sony W230 will be available from mid-March 2009.

The Sony Cyber-shot S980 is a new easy-to-use 12.1 megapixel compact camera. The Sony S980 features a 4x optical zoom lens, SteadyShot for clearer handheld shooting, and Face Detection technology. The Sony S980 will be available in silver, black and pink from end-February 2009

The Sony Cyber-shot S930 is a new easy-to-use 10 megapixel compact camera. The Sony S930 features a 3x optical zoom lens, SteadyShot for clearer handheld shooting, and Face Detection technology. The Sony S930 will be available in silver, black and pink from April 2009 for about £99.

The Samsung SL820 and SL620 are new 12.2 megapixel cameras with 3 inch LCD screens and 5x zooms. The SL820 (known as the IT100 in Europe) offers a 28mm wide angle lens and 720p HD video recording, while the SL620 has a standard 35mm lens and 640x480 pixel video. Both the SL820 and SL620 (known as the PL65 in Europe) feature both Optical and Digital Image Stabilization, Smart Auto mode, Smart Album, Face Detection, Blink Detection, Smile Shot, and Beauty Shot. The Samsung SL820 will be available in May for $279.99. The Samsung SL620 will be available in March for $199.99. The Samung IT100 will be available in silver, black, and red for £229 from April 2009. The Samsung PL65 will cost £179 and comes in Black, Pink, Silver and Dark Grey, available from March.

The Samsung SL202 and SL30 are new family-friendly 10 megapixel cameras with 3x zooms. The SL202 (known as the PL50 in Europe) has a brushed metal finish, 2.7 inch LCD screen and Smart Auto, Smart Album, Face Detection, Blink Detection, Smile Shot, and Beauty Shot modes. Like the SL202, the SL30 (known as the ES15 in Europe)  also offers MJPEG, VGA video recording, Face Detection, which detects up to nine faces and automatically adjusts focus and exposure, as well as Beauty Shot, which automatically enhances subjects’ skin tones. The Samsung SL202 will be available in March 2009 for $149.99, and the Samsung SL30 for $99.99. The Samsung PL50 will cost £119 and is available in Candy Pink, Black and Silver. The Samsung ES15 will be available in Candy Pink, Silver, White and Dark Grey for £79 from April 2009.

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009 competition is now open for entries. The Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009 contest has 17 categories (14 for adults and three for children). Prize money is £10,000 for the overall winner and up to £1,000 for the category winners. Last year’s overall winner was American photographer Steve Winter for his image Snowstorm leopard (pictured). The closing date is 27th March 2009.

Phase One will be demonstrating their range of Digital Backs and Capture One software at this year’s Focus on Imaging show. There will also be seminars and presentations running all day on stand Q10 featuring Walter Borchenko, Drew Gardner and Adrian Weinbrecht. The exhibition takes place at the Birmingham NEC, UK from February 22th - 25th 2009.

Nik Software are exhibiting their new software products at this year’s Focus on Imaging show. There will also be daily live presentations of their products shown by Nik experts, live shootings and presentations by Robin Preston at the HP stand, and an advanced Capture NX 2 speech at the Nikon stand. The exhibition takes place at the Birmingham NEC, UK from February 22th - 25th 2009.

The Profoto D1 Monolight System is a new range of digital compact electronic flashes. Available in 250, 500 or 1000 watt-second versions, the Profoto D1 monolight system can be adjusted from full to 1/64th power in 1/10th stop intervals, offering a range of seven f/stops in precise, repeatable and consistent output. The Profoto D1’s also have quick recycling time (0,1- 0,8 second), short flash duration (1/100th – 1/2600th sec) and compact sizes. Five different Profoto D1 Studio Kits are available.

The Fujifilm FinePix S1500fd is a new 10 megapixel camera with a 12x optical zoom. Offering a focal length of 33-396mm, the Fujifilm S1500fd is an SLR-styled digital camera with Dual Image Stabilization, Automatic Scene Recognition, 2.7 inch LCD screen, electronic viewfinder and ISO up to ISO 1600 at full resolution. The Fujifilm FinePix S1500fd will be available in March 2009 for $249.95.

The Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP is a new waterproof digital camera that can be used up to 3m underwater. The 10 megapixel Fujifilm Z33WP features a 2.7 inch LCD screen, 3x optical zoom lens, Automatic Scene Recognition mode, Face Detection and one-touch movie button. The Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP will be available in late March for $199.95.

The Fujifilm FinePix Z30 is a new 10 megapixel digital camera designed specifically for the younger generation. The Fujifilm Z30 is even sleeker than its predecessors, the Z10 and Z20, and additionally features Automatic Scene Recognition mode, a 2.7 inch LCD screen and a 3x optical zoom lens. The Fujifilm FinePix Z30 will be available in pink, orange and black in March for $179.95.

The Fujifilm FinePix J250 and J20 are new digital cameras aimed at budget-conscious buyers. The Fujifilm J250 offers a 3.0 inch LCD, 5x wide-angle zoom lens (28mm-140mm), Automatic Scene Recognition mode, mechanical and ISO-based stabilization. The Fujifilm J20 is just 17.4mm thick and houses a 10 megapixel CCD sensor, 3x optical zoom lens and a 2.7 inch LCD screen. The Fujifilm FinePix J20 will be available in black and silver in February 2009 for $129.95, and the Fujifilm FinePix J250 in black in March 2009 for $199.95.

PocketWizard ControlTL is a new easy-to-use remote flash system. You can simply slide-in, turn-on and shoot with the new PocketWizard MiniTT1 and FlexTT5, regardless of flash positioning or daylight. The MiniTT1 Transmitter is a tiny, low-profile unit that slides into the camera’s hot shoe. The FlexTT5 Transceiver is also a low-profile but slightly larger transceiver. Both PocketWizard ControlTL solutions take the complex TTL data being sent through the camera’s hot shoe and digitally transmit it in a reliable radio signal. Photographers can now place TTL (or manual) flash units anywhere to illuminate the scene. Changes in ISO, aperture and shutter speed are seamlessly passed along for reliable, flawless flash. You can even use your flash compensation controls to make changes in flash output. PocketWizard ControlTL versions for Canon are available March 1st, Nikon in 2Q, 2009. Prices are $199 for the MiniTT1 and $219 for the FlexTT5 in the US and Canada. The MiniTT1 and Flex TT5 for Canon will be available in April 2009 the UK through JP Distribution (prices to be confirmed).

Anthony Suau’s image of an armed officer moving through a home in Cleveland, Ohio, following an eviction is the winner of World Press Photo of the Year 2008. This year, a record 5,508 professional photographers from 124 countries submitted a total of 96,268 images. The winning image was taken in March 2008 as part of a story commissioned by Time magazine.  Anthony Suau will receive a cash prize of €10,000 from World Press Photo at an awards ceremony in Amsterdam on 3rd May.

Win a share of £5,000 worth of Nikon equipment in the WWT Nikon Photography Competition 2009. Just take a photo at one of the nine WWT wetland centres in the UK and capture any aspect of the WWT experience, from the people to the wildlife to the landscape. The competition is now open and the closing date for entries is Monday 7th September 2008.

The Asian Wedding is a new seminar from Annabel Williams’ Contemporary Photographic Training. The seminar is hosted by guest speaker Tushar Shah, who has established one of the most successful Asian Wedding Studios in the UK. The first seminar is on 30th April 2009, priced at £250+VAT, with further dates planned for later in the year.

National Geographic photographer Reza will talk about his new book new book War + Peace at the Frontline Club in London. Reza has covered most of the globe for National Geographic and other major international publications. War + Peace conveys torment and upheaval, but also the art, culture, and traditions of Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and other areas. This event will take place on March 2nd at 7:00pm.

Website: Frontline

Four 8ft prints by professional photographer David Osborn of Britishpanoramics.com, taken with the 160 megapixel Seitz 6x17, are about to be shown for the first time. ‘There isn’t another camera anywhere in the world that takes larger digital pictures than the 160 mega pixel Seitz, and the files produce incredible results,’ says Osborn. You can judge Osborn’s prints for yourselves on the Innova Art stand at Focus on Imaging at the NEC from 22-25 February.

Epson’s Traditional Photo Paper, a professional quality inkjet media with a nostalgic smooth and glossy finish, is now available in roll format. It is available in 15m roll lengths with widths of 17”, 24”, 44” and 64”. Prices start at £78.51 (Ex. VAT). Epson is also offering 50% off its traditional photo paper sheet media range until the end of March, including A2 Premium Lustre Photo Paper, Premium Glossy Photo Paper and Premium Semigloss Photo Paper.