Leading nationwide architectural practice ADP has launched its first photography competition, Bricks and Mortals. The winner will be awarded a £1000 commission to photograph one of ADP’s completed buildings, plus £750 worth of camera equipment vouchers. Open to higher and further education students, in their final year of photography and similar courses, as well as Part II and Part III architectural students, the Bricks and Mortals judges will be lloking for the entry that best captures the subtle interaction between people and the built environment. Closing date for entries is 30th January 2009.

Geotate has upgraded its GPS Web-Service for adding location tags to digital images. “This upgrade of our Internet-based web-service coincides with the first Geotate technology-enabled products using our technology, being used by photographers.  It represents another step in our ability to engineer innovative technology into market leading products,” said CTO Chris Marshall. Geotate’s software is used in JOBO’s photoGPS, amongst other products, and it allows you to record and discover the location where you took your pictures and videos.

The GrafiLite Mode from Colour Confidence provides a convenient source of natural daylight for assessing prints. The new GrafiLite Mode (£85/€125 ex. tax) offers the same viewing accuracy as the original GrafiLite model, but over a larger area. “Because artificial lighting can distort your colour perception, the best way to assess prints or proofs is in natural daylight – but of course, that isn’t available 24 hours a day”, comments Simon Prais, Technical Director of Colour Confidence. “The GrafiLite range offers a choice of convenient ways to recreate these conditions whenever and wherever you need them.” Colour Confidence is also launching a GrafiLite Twin Pack (£94/€150).

The RAW converter software Silkypix Developer Studio now supports the Sony A900, Pentax K-m / K2000, Casio EX-FH20, Panasonic DMC-G1 and Canon PowerShot G10 cameras. Version 3.0.26.1 is available as a free upgrade for registered users. Silkypix Developer Studio 3.0 costs $149.00 and a free trial version is available.

Website: Silkypix Developer Studio 3.0.26.1

The Nikon Solutions Expo professional photography show takes place next week. Held on 9-10th December at Olympia Conference Centre, London, Nikon Solutions Expo covers the complete photography workflow, from inspiration, to tips and advice on getting the right shots, to software processing and printing. A selection of high profile photographers will also be giving talks at the show, including Alex Bailey, Joe Cornish and Donovan Wylie. Entry to the Nikon Solutions Expo is free when you register online.

“Memories of Myself” by Danny Lyon is a collection of beautiful photo-essays from one of the most original and influential American photographers. Lyon emerged in the early 1960s as a courageous participant and recorder of the civil rights movement, pioneering the ‘New Journalism’ style of photography. This new book presents a collection of Lyon’s photo essays, published in their complete form for the first time. Memories of Myself will be published by Phaidon Press in february 2009 and costs £45.00/ €75.00.

Nikon is now the number one manufacturer for DSLR cameras. Speaking at today’s UK launch of the new 24.5 megapixel D3x DSLR, Chris Hoare, Professional Business Manager at Nikon UK, revealed that Nikon was ranked number one in the UK for October 2008, and that the company had also reached the top position in Europe, USA and Japan during 2008. Nikon’s strong showing at the recent Olympic Games in Beijing, where 50% of pros were using Nikon gear, was also cited. In the UK, Nikon’s DSLR sales have grown by 333% since 2004/05.

Meanwhile, James Banfield, Nikon UK Professional Support And Training, explained why the D3x doesn’t feature a video mode. “We have one goal for the D3x - to achieve the best image quality at the highest resolution”. Chris Hoare added “We didn’t have the right type of video technology for the D3x, but our R&D team is focusing on getting this right for the future.” When questioned about the lack of built-in dust-removal, Banfield replied that Nikon didn’t want to have to reduce the viewfinder coverage by 5% in order to incorporate the technology. He also revealed that the 24.5 megapixel sensor inside the Nikon D3x is a “Nikon exclusive design”.

The new D3x will make it’s first UK public appearance at the Nikon Solutions Expo, held on 9th and 10th of December at Olympia in London.

We have some exclusive photos taken with a production version of the new 24.5 megapixel Nikon D3x DSLR camera that was announced this morning. Our Nikon D3x photos show off the camera’s ISO performance throughout the range, with all images available as large/fine JPEGs. We’ll also add the RAW files when a program is released that can actually open them (Nikon’s own software won’t be updated until the end of the month). So click the link below to find out what an ISO 6400, 24.5 megapixel image from a £5,500 camera really looks like…

Website: Nikon D3x Photos

The entry-level camera market is a cut-throat world, with falling prices and improving specifications making DSLR photography more affordable than ever before. Enter stage left the new Pentax K-m (also known as the Pentax K2000), a small, light and simplified camera aimed squarely at beginners to SLR photography. Costing a wallet-friendly £399.99 / $699 with the new smc DA-L 18-55 lens (and flash in the US), the 10 megapixel Pentax Km is one of the smallest DSLRs available, yet still offers a host of impressive features. These include a built-in anti-shake system, dust-removal, Auto Picture mode, and 3.5 frames per second continuous shooting speed. Can the Pentax K-m make an impression and challenge the likes of the Nikon D60, Canon EOS 1000D, Sony A200 and Olympus E-420? Mark Goldstein finds out…

Website: Pentax K-m Review

The Nikon D3X is a new 24.5 megapixel, full-frame professional DSLR camera. Coming as no surprise after last week’s leaks, the D3X doubles the resolution of the D3 while retaining many of its key features - 51-point AF system, EXPEED engine with 14-bit A/D conversion and 16-bit image processing, 920,000-dot 3-inch LCD screen, and Live View. The main differences are the 50-6400 ISO range, 5fps continuous shooting speed, and the price tag of £5499.99 / €7728.00 / $7999.95. The Nikon D3X will be available in the UK in late December 2008.

We’ll publish some pictures of the new D3X from the UK press launch which takes place later today.

We’ve just published sample photos taken with a production version of the brand new Canon EOS 5D Mark II DSLR camera. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II is the world’s first DSLR camera that can shoot full High Definition video. There are 40 full-sized JPEGs and 6 RAWs for you to download. Our full Canon EOS 5D Mark II review is now available.

Website: Canon EOS 5D Mark II Photos

The new Nikon D3x DSLR has appeared in the latest issue of Nikon’s own Pro magazine. Gadget website Engadget has published scanned pages with details of the successor to the D3 (pictured). The Nikon D3x is a full-frame, 24.5 megapixel DSLR camera that offers 5fps continuous shooting (or 7fps at 10 megapixels), a 3 inch LCD screen with 922k dots, ISO range of 50-6400, 16-bi EXPEED image processor, new Extra High D-lighting setting, Live View shooting mode and a 51 point autofocus system. There’s no mention of the Nikon D3x’s price, launch date or if it features a HD video mode to match its natural rival, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

Website: Engadget - Nikon outs D3x in own Pro magazine

Panasonic will be releasing a new firmware update for the Lumix DMC-LX3 compact camera on 15th December. Version 1.1 includes a compatibility update for the optional FL220 flash unit, and improves auto white balance performance.

Leica are offering a massive $1500 rebate on the M8 digital camera. Valid in the US and Canada until January 1st 2009, Leica are also offering $300 off a new M-Lens (excluding the 50mm/f0.95, 21mm/f1.4, 24mm/f1.4 and 24mm/f3.8). The rebates will be processed 6 to 8 weeks after the product has been registered.

Leica are offering a $150 rebate on the D-LUX 4 digital compact camera, and $100 off the C-LUX 3. This mail-in rebate offer is valid in the US and Canada until January 1st 2009. The rebates will be processed 6 to 8 weeks after the product has been registered. Also the warranty on the D-LUX 4 and C-LUX has been extended to 3 years.

The Annabel Williams 2009 Photographic Awards are aimed at all wedding, portrait and lifestyle photographers. There are seven different categories to enter, with the overall winner awarded ‘Annabel Williams Photographer of the Year 2009”. With a total prize fund of more than £10,000, the awards will run until 31st March 2009. The entry fee is £5.00 and you can enter as many categories as you like.

The Digital IXUS 870 IS is a brand new addition to Canon’s style-led IXUS camera range (called the SD880 IS Digital ELPH in the USA). Replacing the Digital IXUS 860 IS, the 10 megapixel Canon 870 IS model features a wide-angle (28mm) stabilised 4x optical zoom lens, 3 inch LCD screen and employs Canon’s new DIGIC 4 processor. Priced at $299.99 / £269.99 / €349.99, Zoltan Arva-Toth finds out if the Canon Digital IXUS 870 IS / Canon SD880 IS Digital ELPH is worth giving thanks for…

Website: Canon Digital IXUS 870 IS Review

Ricoh have released a new firmware update, version 2.20, for the GR Digital II compact digital camera. Version 2.20 adds a number of new features, including the ability to use the AF target shift function in all shooting modes.

The Japanase toy company Tomy has unveiled the world’s first digital camera to feature a built-in printer. The 5 megapixel Xiao camera can produce a 2x3 inch print with an adhesive back in 45 seconds. Developed in collaboration with ZINK Imaging, the Xiao looks very much like a run-of-the-mill compact camera that has been literally stuck on top of a small printer, resulting in a product that could just about be described as hand-held. According to The Telegraph, the Tomy Xiao camera will be available in black, magenta and green and will be available in Japan on Friday for 34,800 yen (around £240).

Website: Telegraph.co.uk - Digital camera with built-in printer launched

The Ansel Adams Gallery has introduced a new range of affordable Archival Replica prints, starting at just $79. “To display an Ansel Adams photograph, people have had three choices until now: an original print made by the artist, Yosemite Special Edition photographs limited to 8 by 10” or fine art posters,” said Matthew Adams of The Ansel Adams Gallery. “These new Archival Replicas expand the selection of his work available to the public in a range of sizes, and do so at affordable prices,” Adams continued. Seven images that Adams created between 1930 and 1955 were chosen for the range, including photographs made in Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Canyon de Chelly, at Point Sur and of the Marin Headlands.