Peartree are offering photographers the chance to upgrade their DSLR systems to the brand new Leaf AFi camera. The Leaf AFi is a new 6 x 6 medium-format digital camera for professional photographers. Leaf will pay £5,000 for your Nikon, Canon or Kodak DSLR and two lenses when choosing the AFi 7, or £3000 for an AFi 5. This promotion is running for a limited period only. See www.peartreephoto.com for full terms and conditions.

World-renowned photographer Greg Gorman is holding a series of week-long exclusive digital photographic workshops. This workshop series is aimed at any photographer looking to enhance their camera, lighting, color management, image editing and fine art printing skills. The weeklong workshops cost $4250 and are offered from June 8-13, August 3-8 and September 21-26, limited to nine attendees each.

The five winners of Elevation 2008, PhotoShelter’s first annual student-to-pro award and competition, have been announced. The five grand prize winners will receive a portfolio from the award’s sponsors, and be a featured photographer in the PhotoShelter Collection’s May 2008 Editors’ Showroom. “We’re thrilled to recognize the 2008 ELEVATION student winners and assist in their transition to the pro level with the help of outstanding judges and sponsors,” said Meagan Ziegler-Haynes, Director of Photography of PhotoShelter.  “Today’s winners should be proud – our distinguished judges felt that their work stood out among hundreds of entries, and now they’ll stand out in the market too.”

The Pentax Photo Gallery has been voted as the Best Use of Photography of the year in a website in the Webby People’s Voice Awards. The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile Websites. “We went in a new direction creating the PENTAX Photo Gallery to offer 24/7/365 virtual access to the best photography captured by Pentaxians around the world. This nomination honors the PENTAX photographers.” commented Ned Bunnell, president, PENTAX Imaging Company.

Buy-n-Shoot have reviewed the Kodak V1073, a new 10 megapixel camera with 5x zoom lens and 3 inch LCD screen.

“he V1073 is also able to record High Definition video with audio in QuickTime and MPEG 4 format and can be marked in camera with either text or sound tags. This feature is also available for still images and proves useful when searching for favourite videos/photos at a later date. While the playback sound is fairly soft in-camera, even at full volume, this is not a problem once uploaded to your computer using the provided Kodak EasyShare software.”

Website: Buy-n-Shoot - Kodak V1073 Review

The new Canon SELPHY CP770 and SELPHY CP760 compact photo printers offer a combination of lab-quality photo printing and ease of operation. The Canon CP770 features an integrated storage case, carry handle and optional battery pack. The ultra-compact Canon CP760 offers a large LCD screen and improved user interface. Both the SELPHY CP770 and SELPHY CP760 print to a variety of different-sized media – including standard print sizes, credit-card size papers and miniature stickers – in as little as 52 seconds. Prices are £89 / $99.99 for the CP760, available end of May, and £139 / $149.99 for the CP770, available end of June.

Adobe have submitted the DNG RAW file format to the ISO as a proposed new standard, according to Adobe’s John Nack. Adobe DNG was first released a couple of years ago, but has struggled to gain real traction with most camera manufacturers, who continue to use their own proprietary formats.

“When we came out with the first camera RAW plug-in, we were supporting around 25 cameras. We’re now supporting more than 175 cameras—in other words, more than 175 different file formats. And when you’re talking about images, people don’t want to keep those images for just five or 10 years. Professional photographers want to know those images will be fine for 50 years—100 years—from now. If you think about the rate of new-camera introductions, how many new file formats will there be?”

Nack also revealed that a DNG-viewing codec for Windows Vista will be released very soon, allowing DNG files to be viewed within the operating system.

Website: John Nack on Adobe - DNG submitted to the ISO

The DSLRClean sensor cleaning kit from Intemos now costs just £9.95 in the UK. The DSLRClean kit contains 10 DSLRClean swabs as well as a 10ml bottle of the travel safe IOptic liquid. “We have re-developed our popular DSLRClean system enabling us to reduce the costs significantly. Now you can purchase a complete kit for just £9.95.” commented INTEMOS managing director Andrew Stagg.

Fujifilm have released a new firmware update, version 1.02, for the FinePix F100fd digital camera. The new firmware update “reduces a “pinkish-colored band” which may be rarely found in the left side edge of image when the image is shot at ISO 400 or shot without flash on “NATURAL & FLASH MODE”.

Website: Fujifilm FinePix F100fd Firmware Update 1.02

Lowepro are offering up to £20 off their extensive range of camera bags. Running from 1st May to 31st July, the promotion offers £10 cashback on any bag between £50 and £100, and £20 cashback on any bag more than £100. This applies to shoulder bags, sling-bags and backpacks – anything in the Lowepro range with a purchase price of £50 or more.

Both Houses of the U.S. Congress have introduced new draft versions of the Orphan Works Act of 2008, a controversial bill about the use of copyrighted works whose owners may be impossible to identify and locate. The Stock Artists Alliance have defended the interests of professional photographers involved in stock image licensing by publishing their commentary and suggestions about Orphan Works. The SAA argues that the effects of the Orphan Works Act, if passed, would be felt worldwide, citing a similar UK study called the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property, which was published in 2006.

The new Hama Omega Carbon tripod range is aimed at semi-professional photographers. The height of the Omega Carbon III tripod adjusts from 71 to 202 cms, and it weighs under 3kgs including a 3D precision ballhead. The smaller Omega Carbon II model has an extension length of 68 to 174 cms and weighs 2.5kgs including the tripod head. A tripod case is included with both models. The Hama Omega Carbon III costs 329 Euros, and the Omega Carbon II 269 Euros.

CyberLink PowerDirector 7 allows users to turn their captured videos into professional-looking movies with ease. PowerDirector 7 provides high-definition video support throughout, from capturing, editing and production, to disc authoring. “With the wide availability of high-definition camcorders, video enthusiasts are looking for powerful tools that can create the kind of masterpieces they expect for their high-quality video content,” said Alice H. Chang, CEO of CyberLink. “CyberLink PowerDirector 7 combines its popular automated editing and video enhancements tools with more advanced editing options, for pro-like results.” CyberLink PowerDirector 7 is now available for $69.95 / 59.99 Euros.

The new Parrot Digital Photo Frame has been created by the leading lady of French design, Andrée Putman. “I would like to pay tribute to Parrot for daring to think that this wonder of technology could be coiled up inside a beautiful wrapping,” explains Andrée Putman. “Storage fans will be the most vulnerable to the charms of this object, which will overcome any problems of arranging photo souvenirs,” she adds. The Parrot digital photo frame by Andrée Putman will be available in exclusive concept stores across Europe and Asia in June 2008 for 299 Euros / £249.99.

DigiCamReview have reviewed the Canon Digital IXUS 90 IS, a compact 10 megapixel camera with 3x zoom lens.

” Image quality is very good - with excellent colour, with high levels of saturation, contrast and detail. Noise is controlled quite well considering the camera features a 10 megapixel sensor. There was also some red eye in group photos, but overall red-eye was generally quite low. The camera did a good job focusing even in low light thanks to the focus assist lamp, and had a high success rate due to the built in optical image stabilisation. There was no noticable vignetting (darkened corners), nor did I notice barrel or pincushion distortion.”

Website: DigiCamReview - Canon Digital IXUS 90 IS Review

Read our Canon Digital IXUS 90 IS Review

The entire range of GE digital cameras is now available through Amazon.com. Amazon has already been selling some GE-branded cameras, but will now expand its offerings to include all the 2008 models. “We’re delighted to offer our products through Amazon.com,” said Hiroshi “Hugh” Komiya, Chairman and CEO of General Imaging. “Amazon has continued its amazing growth through 2007 and now into 2008, and we’re happy to be a part of it.”

Practical Artistry: Light & Exposure for Digital Photographers combines stunning images in a beautifully designed book with no-nonsense insights. Author Harold Davis aims to show photographers how to measure light in order to capture their intended images. Davis commented “As a photographer, I’ve always learned by looking at photographs, particularly when the data about how the photo was made accompanies the image. So I created a book that allows people to learn about photography and to think about how to make photographs by simply looking at photos taken in specific conditions.” Practical Artistry: Light & Exposure for Digital Photographers costs $29.99, £18.50, 24 €.

General Imaging has joined forces with JP Service Solutions in the UK to offer unrivalled after sales care for its GE camera range. Trained JPSS technicians will also handle all customer service enquiries, including responding to product questions, retail outlet information as well as dealing with any technical problems with the camera. Gary Sutton, UK Country Manager, General Imaging, commented “We know it is disappointing when a product fails but with JPSS’s support we are able to resolve the problem quickly and efficiently. We believe we will be offering the quickest turnaround time in the industry.”

We’ve published a selection of JPEG and RAW images taken with the new Canon EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi. The EOS 450D is a 12 megapixel DSLR camera with large 3 inch LCD screen, Live View and 3.5 fps continuous shooting. Our full review of the Canon EOS 450D will be coming soon…

Website: Canon EOS 450D Sample Images

The Canon Digital IXUS 80 IS (also known as the PowerShot SD1100 IS ELPH) is a new 8 megapixel digital camera aimed squarely at the style-cosncious consumer. Featuring Canon’s “perpetual curve design” and available in Classic Silver, Caramel, Chocolate, and Candy Pink, the Digital IXUS 80 IS doesn’t forget to include the latest photographic technologies. There’s a 3x zoom lens complete with optical image stabilizer and motion detection for shake-free photos, 2.5” PureColor LCD screen, DIGIC III image processor, enhanced face detection and red-eye correction when shooting a picture. Priced at £219.00 / €319.00 / $249.99, the Canon Digital IXUS 80 IS isn’t particularly cheap, so does it offer enough to justify the high price-tag? Gavin Stoker found out if the Canon Digital IXUS 80 IS is just a case of style over substance…

Website: Canon Digital IXUS 80 IS Review