WORLD EXCLUSIVE! We’ve been testing out the new Ricoh GX200 for the past week, and today we’ve published a selection of JPEGs, RAW images and a sample movie for you to evaluate. Take a look to see the image quality from the new 12 megapixel sensor and Smooth Imaging Engine III processing engine. Our full GX200 review will follow in the next few days…

Website: Ricoh GX200 Sample Photos

The Ricoh GX200 compact digital camera for professionals is the 12 megapixel successor to last year’s GX100 model. Other significant improvements offered by the GX200 include better noise reduction thanks to the new Smooth Imaging Engine III processing engine, a larger 2.7-inch, 460,000 pixel HVGA LCD screen, 5 shot continuous RAW mode and an electronic level function for horizontal and vertical shooting. It also offers the same 24-72mm zoom lens, 25mm thick body and removable tilting electronic view?nder (optional accessory). The Ricoh GX200 costs £349.99, or £399.99 as a kit with the VF-1 electronic viewfinder. We’ve got some exclusive Ricoh GX200 sample photos, and our full review will follow later this week.

onOne Software’s Plug-In Suite 4 combines full versions of six software tools to make your images look their best. Plug-In Suite 4 includes Genuine Fractals 5 Print Pro, PhotoTools 1.0, PhotoFrame 3.1, Mask Pro 4.1, PhotoTune 2.2 and FocalPoint 1.0. The new Plug-In Suite 4 is available now to new users for $499.95 - a savings of $799.75 if purchased separately.  In the UK, Colour Confidence are distributing Plug-In Suite 4 for £320/€469 – a saving of £497/€748 on purchasing all six separately. Existing users of Plug-in Suite version 1, 2 or 3 can upgrade to Plug-In Suite 4 for $199.95 / £125 / €187.

Panasonic have released a new firmware update for the DMC-TZ4 / TZ5 digital cameras. Version 1.2 simply “improves auto focus performance”.

Website: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ4 / TZ5 Firmware Update 1.2

The FSD-1100 from Fantasea Line is a new underwater housing fro the Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS / IXUS 80 IS camera. Depth rated to 60 meters/200 feet, the FSD-1100 housing provides access to all camera functions. The Fantasea FSD-1100 housing has a double O-ring seal on all controls, anti-glare hood over LCD screen, removable flash diffuser and a 46mm threaded lens port. As with all other Fantasea Camera Housings, in the event of accidental water leakage, the camera inside is insured.

Memorex SimpleSave DVDs offer an easy and hassle-free way to back up your photos and videos. The Memorex discs are record-once DVDs with embedded software that automatically finds, organizes and backs up photo and video files on PCs and connected drives. More than six in every 10 U.S. individuals now own a digital camera and take an estimated 28 photos per month, but only 4% regularly back up data on their PCs. Memorex SimpleSave Photo & Video Back-Up DVDs are available in packs of five discs with slim storage cases for $14.99 per pack.

KoffeePhoto Premium is a new online photo backup service featuring unlimited online backup of pictures. KoffeePhoto Premium provides fully automated backup and restoration of all digital picture files. KoffeePhoto Premium is priced at 39,99 € a year ($59,99).

Hahnemuhle has redesigned its Certificate of Authenticity, which photographers can use to guarantee the authenticity of their limited edition artworks. Each certificate is made of premium deckled edge mould-made paper with a Hahnemuhle watermark and fluorescent security fibers and a serialized number hologram. The combination of the certificate and hologram assures that each Certificate of Authenticity relates to one particular piece of art. Each box contains 25 certificates in A4 size and 50 holograms.

The new Ilford Discovery Pack includes a selection of different papers from the inkjet Photo Paper Range. You can use the Ilford Discovery Pack to test how different weights and surfaces of photo paper can enhance your favourite image. It includes 20 sheets ofPremium Plus Glossy 270gsm and Premium Photo Glossy 250gsm, and 10 sheets of Premium Plus Pearl 270gsm. The ILFORD Discovery Pack is available in the UK through JP Distribution.

Best-selling Photoshop author Deke McClelland has started a new video podcast series, dubbed dekePod. “101 Photoshop Tips in 5 Minutes” is an all-new, irreverent, laugh-out-loud music video. “This has long seemed like an obvious idea to me: Come up with 101 Photoshop Tips, rattle them off in precisely 5 minutes, and set them to music,” says Deke, creator of O’Reilly’s One-on-One book series. You can watch “101 Photoshop Tips in 5 Minutes” now at digitalmedia.oreilly.com/dekePod . Future podcasts are scheduled to be posted every other week and available for download starting Tuesday, July 8.

The Canon Powershot A590 IS compact digicam is the big brother of the A580 model that we reviewed last month. It features exactly the same 4x optical zoom lens, Motion Detection Technology with High ISO Auto, 2.5 inch LCD screen and an optical viewfinder, but adds image stabilisation and full manual control over exposure into the mix. Available for around $150 / £120, is the 8 megapixel Canon A590 IS worth paying a little bit extra for? Gavin Stoker found out…

Website: Canon Powershot A590 IS Review

The new Motozine ZN5 combines a high-quality phone and camera experience, incorporating Kodak Imaging Technology. The Motozine ZN5 features a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus, a Xenon flash, 4GB of optional external memory and optimized settings for low-light environments. “Today’s creative consumers not only want to be the photographer, but also the retoucher, the exhibitor and the critic,” said Jeremy Dale, corporate vice president, mobile devices marketing, Motorola, Inc. “The Motozine ZN5 lets them be all the things they want to be.” Motozine ZN5 will be first available in China in July 2008 and is expected to roll out around the globe throughout the remainder of the year.

Kodak Imaging Technology aims to to redefine the image quality, convenience and connectivity of mobile imaging devices. “There are more than 600 million digital images captured each day, and more and more photos are being taken with mobile devices,” said John Blake, general manager of digital capture and imaging devices group, and vice president, Eastman Kodak Company. “KODAK Imaging Technology addresses the three main issues that frustrate consumers about these shots - poor image quality, difficulty transferring images off their mobile devices, and the inability to easily share images with family and friends.”

Graduates in BA Honours Photography at the University of Kent are displaying their work at an exhibition starting this week. One of the students, Sallie Neal, says “the exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to see a diverse range of work by the BA students. We are very proud of all we have achieved this year.” The exhibition takes place at Royal Victoria Place in Tunbridge Wells, open to the public on Tuesday 24th June through to Sunday 29th June. PhotographyBLOG is one of the exhibition’s sponsors.

Casio have released a new firmware update for the EX-Z9 digital camera. Version 1.02 includes the following improvements:

1.  Adds support for 16GB SDHC memory cards.
2. Fixes a problem with scrolling of a displayed image.
  * Item 2 limited to when “Off” is selected for the confirmation tone setting.

Website: Casio EX-Z9 Firmware Update 1.02

TrustedReviews have reviewed the Pentax V20, a new 8 megapixel camera with a 5x zoom lens and 3 inch LCD screen.

“Pentax has made a lot of improvements in the performance of its compact cameras recently, but unfortunately the V20 seems to be something of a step backwards. The startup time is a little slow at just over three seconds, but it does shut down more quickly in just over two seconds. The performance bottleneck is once again the autofocus system, which is very slow, and as a result the shot-to-shot time in single shot mode is approximately 3.5 seconds, even shooting in good light with a high-contrast target.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Pentax V20 Review

Viveza from Nik Software allows you to selectively control color and light in photographic images without the need for complicated selections or layer masks. Based on the innovative U Point technology, you simply place a point on the image where you want to make changes and then adjust easy-to-use sliders for brightness, contrast, color and more. Priced at $249.95 / 249.95 Euros, Viveza isn’t cheap, but it does promise to save you a lot of time and effort and achieve better results at the same time. Jon Canfield shows you how to use Viveza in our latest review.

Website: Nik Software Viveza Review

The price of DSLR cameras is steadily falling, according to a recent report by Futuresource Consulting. The average selling price of DSLRs in Europe has dropped by 1.6% (20 Euros) in the past ten weeks, to just over 1,250 Euros. The largest decreases have been in the in the 6-7 megapixel segment, with the Nikon D40 (pictured) now 7% cheaper than 10 weeks ago. Interestingly the recently launched Olympus E-420 is already 4.5% cheaper. “...large like for like price declines did have a significant impact on the market in 2007, with overall digital camera shipments growing 25% globally. In terms of 2008 growth the DSLR market outlook looks particularly strong, with Futuresource projections showing growth of 19% to 8.9m units, equating to €5.4Bn worldwide, this despite the credit crunch.” commented James Wells, Futuresource Consulting.

You can purchase a Hasselblad H3DII-31 Kit at a special price of $17,995 when you register for the free online publication of Victor by Hasselblad. The Hasselblad H3DII-31 is a Medium Format DSLR camera system including a 31 megapixel sensor, and the kit is comprised of the H3DII-31 camera body, viewfinder, and 80mm lens. The offer runs from June 1st - August 31st 2008, while stocks last.

World-renowned photographer Rick Sammon is giving a free webcast called “10 Key Ingredients for Cookin’ Digital Pictures” on June 26th. Rick will share his top digital photography tips and favourite photo philosophies. Attendance is limited, so register now at http://oreilly.com/go/pictures