Akvis Magnifier 2 enlarges digital pictures to super-high resolution enlargements. Now available as a plugin to a photo editor, as well as a standalone edition, Magnifier 2 adds support for image editing in Lab mode, a print dialog, and three new interface languages. Akvis Magnifier 2 is available for both Windows and Mac and costs $129 USD / 99 Euro.

Adobe Photoshop is the undisputed heavyweight of the imaging software world, but for a lot of photographers, its multitude of features can prove to be a hindrance rather than a help. Enter Photoshop Elements 7, the latest version of Adobe’s best-selling consumer photo-editing software that aims to offer the things that you really need at a fraction of the price of its big brother. With a wallet-friendly price of £65 ex Vat / $99.99, is Elements 7 the right photo editor for these troubled financial times? Jon Canfield takes you on a guided tour of all the new additions.

Website: Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 Review

Canon USA’s camera evangelist Chuck Westfall has kindly agreed to answer your questions about all things Canon-related. Simply post your question in the Comments section (click the Comments link below) and keep them on-topic. You have until this Sunday (26th October) to ask what you’ve always wanted to know, and then Chuck will answer them next week.

Update: Chuck has now answered all 84 questions that you submitted; his answers have been added to the end of each comment. Please join me in thanking Chuck for taking part in this question and answer session.

The winners of the October 2008 PhotographyBLOG Competition have been selected by a panel of judges. The theme for October was “Hands” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery. Here are the 5 winners:

1st Place
generations by smarti77

Prize: 1 copy of Powerretouche Full Pro Pack
Kindly donated by Powerretouche.
http://powerretouche.com

The BenQ M2400HD is a new 24 inch, High Definition widescreen LCD monitor. The new M2400 HD features 1080p, 2ms response time, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 2.0M webcam, integrated speakers, and a built-in microphone. Price and availability of the BenQ M2400HD to be announced.

Mastering the Nikon D300 is a new book that explores the features and capabilities of the powerful new Nikon D300 camera. Author Darrell Young provides step-by-step menu setting adjustments coupled with illustrations and logical explanations for each option. Mastering the Nikon D300 also covers additional Nikon equipment, such as the use of optional Speedlights. Mastering the Nikon D300 is published by Rocky Nook and costs $39.95.

Digital Railroad customers will receive a 15% discount during November on a Lightbox Photo account. Following the collapse of Digital Railroad last week, Lightbox Photo is the latest company to offer its photo gallery software as the alternative solution. Lightbox Photo allows users to create their own stock photo libraries or online proofing systems. Lightbox Photo is available as a Standard, Professional or Enterprise Version priced from $399 (approx. £200).

Modern Virtues & Modern Vices is a new competition from the Royal Photographic Society that aims to recreate a forgotten scandal of Victorian photography. Printed from 32 separate negatives, combined in the darkroom to make a single image, Oscar Gustav Rejlander’s controversial work juxtaposed images of piety and debauchery to dramatic effect, and caused a public sensation in 1857. Competition entrants will be asked to digitally combine and alter images to create a modern version of ‘Two ways of life’. The winning entry will receive a prize of £500 and a free year’s membership of The Society. The closing date is 30th April 2009.

Photo Expo West is the largest photo show on the West coast of the USA. 13 of the world’s most famous photographers will lead 38 seminars over the two day show, which also brings 30,000 square feet of discounted photography gear. Held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, Photo Expo West will be open to the public from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday 8th November and 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday 9th November.

Get Capture NX2 software free when you buy a Nikon D700 camera. UK customers purchasing a D700 from 1st November to 31st December 2008 can claim Capture NX2 for free. Claims must be received by 31st January 2009 to qualify, and the promotion is available on UK stock only.

Light & Land has announced its 2009 photography tour dates. With over 50 tours planned for next year, whether you are looking for a one day workshop, a long weekend in the Lake District, a saunter round Santorini, or a trek across the Namib Desert, there’s something for every photographer. Founder Charlie Waite said: ‘Light & Land has clients from all walks of life and of all ages – you will often find there’s an amazing bond which forms on many tours, a great sense of camaraderie and fun, as well as a shared interest in photography.’

The Leaf AFi II, Aptus II and Broncolor Scoro will be launched in the UK this month. Taking place at Peartree’s brand new showroom in London on the 12th November, you will be able to gain first hand experience with the new Leaf AFi II 10 and Aptus II 10 camera systems and Broncolor Scoro power pack. Places will be limited, so it will be entry via invitation only.

The new WD TV Media Player allows you to view photos stored on a portable hard drive on a HDTV in Full-HD 1080p resolution. Simply leave the WD TV HD Media Player connected to your TV and plug in up to two My Passport USB drives or other USB mass storage devices. Using the included remote control, you can navigate and play your content with the WD TV’s high-definition on-screen menu. The WD TV HD Media Player is available now for $129.99.

Panasonic are in talks with Sanyo to create Japan’s largest electronics retailer. Panasonic will approach Sanyo’s top three shareholders, with a sale of their shares possible from March 2009. Panasonic are particularly interested in Sanyo’s battery business, including the solar battery division.

Website: Panasonic to Start Talks to Acquire Sanyo

Get up to £50 off a digiframe when you also buy a Nikon Coolpix digital camera. Valid in the UK from 1st November – 31st December 2008, customers purchasing a Nikon Coolpix camera can claim up to £50 off a digiframe or the value of the digiframe, when purchased in the same transaction from the same retailer. Claims must be received by 31st January 2009 to qualify.

US camera manufacturer Concord has gone into liquidation, blaming declining sales of film and single-use cameras. Concord have been unable to find a buyer, and has subsequently ceased manufacturing and made most of its workforce redundant. Concord cameras were mainly sold in Wal-Mart and Walgreens in the US.

Website: Broward-based Concord Camera to close

Photographer Annabel Williams and Contemporary Photographic Training have announced a new range of photography workshops for 2009. Held in the Lake District, UK, the workshops cater for every level of photographer, run throughout the year, and last between one and four days. ‘Photography does not need to be complicated, neither does the way we train people! No slogans, unrealistic business theories or jargon here - we implement tried and tested, sensible approaches to business - enabling development for all.’ said Catherine Connor, who runs CPT alongside Annabel Williams and Jane Breakell.

If you’re looking for a pocket camera that complements or even replaces your DSLR, then the new Canon PowerShot G10 and Nikon Coolpix P6000 should be high on your list. But which one is the best? Find out now by reading our in-depth head to head review.

Website: Canon G10 V Nikon P6000 Review

Ricoh have released a new firmware update, v1.51, for the Ricoh GX100 digital camera. Version 1.51 includes the following improvements:

1. Modified the following phenomenon.
After switching from the Auto mode to a My setting mode, and then you get back the Auto mode again, the zoom position of the lens will always become at wide end.

Website: Ricoh GX100 Firmware Update 1.51

WD has added a high-speed FireWire 800 interface to its popular My Passport Studio portable drive. With FireWire 800/400 and USB interfaces, the new My Passport Studio portable drives offer up to 500 GB of storage capacity, are formatted for Mac computers and weigh less than 7 ounces. “Photographers and videographers, be they creative pros or Mac computer enthusiasts, have a genuine need for large amounts of fast, portable storage for their high-definition files,” said Jim Welsh, senior vice president and general manager of WD’s Branded Products and Consumer Electronics Groups. “With a new FireWire 800 interface, My Passport Studio speeds up editing and transferring of big media files making it perfect for performance-minded Mac computer users on the go.” My Passport Studio with FireWire 800/400 interfaces and 500 GB capacity is $249.99, and for 400 GB capacity is $229.99.