DJI have introduced the Zenmuse X7, the World’s first Super 35 digital camera optimised for professional aerial cinematography. The device comprises a gimbal and the camera itself, which features a Super 35 video sensor offering raw video capture with 14 stops of dynamic range, plus an entirely new DJI-DL lens mount with an ultra-short flange-back distance. Available with focal lengths of 16 mm, 24 mm, 35 mm, and 50 mm, each new DJI lens has a maximum aperture of f/2.8 and is crafted out of carbon fibre, making them durable and lightweight for high-performance aerial cinematography with the DJI Inspire 2 drone. The Zenmuse X7 camera is priced at $2,699. The 16 mm, 24 mm and 35 mm lenses will be available for $1,299 each, and the 50 mm for $1,199. Customers can purchase the Zenmuse X7 prime lens combo including all 4 lenses for $4,299. The Zenmuse X7 will start shipping in early November 2017.

Canon U.S.A. today announced their 2018 Live Learning EOS Destination workshop schedule. Now in its 10th year, EOS Destination Workshops provide attendees the opportunity to shoot side-by-side with the pros, developing their photography skills with hands-on education, while using Canon’s latest gear. Most Destination Workshops are 16 students or less, providing attendees easy access to instructors and their support staff in a small and intimate setting. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to print their favourite image on Canon professional printers, bringing the experience to life in a work of art. Fees for the current schedule of 2018 workshops range from $1499 to $1999 and Canon Professional Service Gold and Silver members are eligible to receive a $100 discount. Lodging, airfare and meals are the responsibility of the attendee. Click through / scroll down for the workshop schedule.

Anthropics today launched PortraitPro 17. This version adds new tools such as Background Editing, Snapshots, advanced Preset controls and Vignette, plus new makeup options, improved automatic face-detection technology, an updated interface and faster operation. 

“Background editing and Snapshots are things we’ve been working towards for a while,” said CEO Andrew Berend. “It’s really exciting to finally see them in the hands of our users.” PortraitPro 17 is now available for purchase, priced from $39.95/£29.95.

Hahnemühle have just added the new Goya Canvas 340 gsm to their Digital FineArt Collection. Goya Canvas - an acid-free, natural white, poly-cotton canvas - guarantees archival standards.  With its premium satin inkjet coating Goya Canvas meets the highest industry standards regarding density, colour gamut, colour graduation and image sharpness. The product is available in four different sizes.

Akvis today released SmartMask 10 for Mac and Windows. This update adds a new Refine Radius tool to the Refine Edges mode that lets users locally fine-tune the boundaries of their selection. Additionally, the Magic Brush tool has been improved and now offers a number of new settings allowing you to more precisely define the colours to keep/drop. Last but not least, the new version comes with the new Grey interface theme, support for new raw image files in the standalone version, and some bug fixes. Version 10 is a free upgrade for everyone who bought the product in the last 12 months. The software runs on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10; and Mac OS 10.7-10.13. The product is available as a standalone application and as a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop and Corel PaintShop Pro.

PhotoAid Global photographer Eleonora Oleotto has teamed up with glass artist Diana Dias-Leao for a joint exhibition supporting the survivors of the Grenfell Tower disaster. Diana has been given space in two galleries in Faroe Road and Masbro Road to hold exhibitions of glass and photography works donated by artists to be sold in order to raise as much money as possible for the Grenfell Tower survivors.

Eleonora Oleotto uses therapeutic photography in her practice to help people and other professionals like coaches and psychologists, she recently joined PhotoAid Global who is supporting the project. “The 14th of June was a difficult and intense day for me too. I helped volunteers sort items and then felt the need to walk into the area to see and feel what other people were going through. It took me some hours before being able to start taking pictures. There was Silence. A deep Silence. Our eyes talked to each other. Our hands helped each other. There was a big and deep sense of humanity. As it should be always in our lives.” Click through / read on to find out about the Beyond Words exhibition dates and times.

Nikon UK today launched their wide-angle and portrait cashback promotion offering up to £90/€100 on the Nikon D5600 digital SLR camera and selected Nikkor lenses. Tim Carter, Head of Product Management at Nikon UK says: “This is the ideal promotion for photography enthusiasts looking to take the next step with their photography and invest in some exceptional Nikon glass. With the changing of the seasons and the Christmas period fast approaching, now is the perfect time for photographers to up their game and look at adding to their gear.” This promotion also offers the chance to donate some of your cashback to the Nikon company charity, Sightsavers, in return for a special leather Nikon 100th year anniversary strap. The cashback amount will vary depending on the purchase and/or number of purchases made. Click through / scroll down for the details.

The terms and conditions of participating in the E1|R1 Photo Award are now available online. As the first of its kind, the international E1|R1 Photo Award for professional photographers seeks the most beautiful and powerful photographs in the environment of the European long-distance paths, E1, for hikers, and R1 for cyclists. Entrants may submit photo series with at least three and at most four motifs to one of 4 categories including, “Culture and Landscape”, “Man and Nature”, “Sky and Earth” and “Animal and Nature”. The submission window opens on 1 December 2017 and closes on 31 March 2018. The winners in each individual category, the overall winner, as well as the winner of the prize for the promotion of young talent (chosen by Olympus) will be selected by a professional jury. The overall winner of the professional award will receive a prize to the value of 12,000 Euros, while the winner of each category will receive 3,500 Euros each.

The Yashica digiFilm Y35 is a new digital camera offering a similar shooting experience as an old film camera. Featuring a 1/3.2"-type 14-megapixel sensor, a 35mm (eq.) f/2.8 lens, a built-in viewfinder and five shutter speeds, the Yashica Y35 takes different digiFilms such as "ISO400/27° Black & White" or "ISO1600/33 High-Speed Colour," and saves the resulting photos on an SD card. In other words, instead of choosing a picture style and ISO speed from a menu, as you'd do with a regular digital camera, you need to physically insert a cartridge as with a film camera.  Actually, the Yashica digiFilm Y35 does not even have an LCD screen - to change cartridges (and batteries), you need to open the rear cover, similarly to the way you would change film in an analogue camera. The only controls on the Y35 are the shutter release, a shutter speed selector and a winder (which doesn't actually advance the "film," of course, but enhances the illusion of shooting a film camera). Backers pledging HK$1,108 (US$142) or more on Kickstarter will get a Yashica digiFilm Y35 camera plus two digiFilms, whereas those pledging HK$1,248 (US$160) will get the camera and four different digiFilms. Shipments are expected to commence in April 2018.

The third edition of the ZEISS Photography Award is now open for entries. Launching with a new brief of “Seeing Beyond - Untold Stories”, photographers from around the world are invited to submit their best series of work before the competition closes on 6 February 2018. The winner and a shortlist of up to ten talented photographers will be announced on 3 April. Winning images, as well as selected shortlisted photographers, will be shown alongside the Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House in London, from 20 April - 6 May.

Google have posted a large number of high-resolution sample photos taken with their new Pixel 2 smartphone. Covering several genres ranging from still life to action, landscapes and portraiture, these Google Pixel 2 samples demonstrate a remarkable dynamic range - especially those taken in HDR mode -, good overall colour, varying levels of detail and some processing artefacts. You can download the full-size originals from the website below.

Website: Google Pixel 2 Sample Photos

Alien Skin Software today released Exposure X3, the latest version of their non-destructive raw photo editor and organiser. This edition brings new colour and B&W toning enhancements that give photographers greater control over their image adjustments. Powerful new organising tools include virtual copies for editing multiple variations of a single photo, without taking up additional disk space. Exposure’s intuitive keywords interface enables photographers to add descriptive metadata to their photo, making it easy to organize photos around themes and to create keyword sets. The advanced collections tools help them quickly and easily group their images, no matter where they appear on their computer. Exposure X3 is available for $149. Existing users can upgrade for $99.

Samyang have just announced their fourth autofocus lens for Sony's full-frame E-mount cameras, the Samyang AF 35mm F1.4 FE. The optical formula comprises 11 elements in 9 groups and features 2 aspherical lenses and 2 high-refractive lenses, plus Ultra Multi Coating. The lens will be available globally from November and will carry a suggested retail price of £599.

OmegaBrandess will demonstrate its complete line of products and services at this year's PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo in New York City. "We are excited that OmegaBrandess Distribution will join us at this year's PhotoPlus Expo," said Mike Gangel, Show Director at PhotoPlus Expo.  “The show continues to bring together innovative manufacturers, world class photographers, and imaging experts to create an incredible learning experience.  OmegaBrandess certainly adds to that learning experience." Attendees at this year's show will have an opportunity to receive hands-on demos of OmegaBrandess’ latest products including HyperJuice USB-C Hubs & Chargers, Gary Fong SnootSleeve, Intova Action Cameras and more.

RED have announced the Monstro 8K VV, a new cinematic full-frame sensor for WEAPON cameras. Billed as an "evolutionary step beyond the RED Dragon 8K VV sensor," the new Monstro 8K VV promises improvements in image quality, including dynamic range (to the tune of 17+ stops!) and shadow detail. The combination of a WEAPON camera and the Monstro 8K VV imager offers full-frame lens coverage, captures 8K full format motion at up to 60 fps, produces detailed 35.4-megapixel stills, and delivers data speeds of up to 300 MB/s. “RED’s internal sensor programme continues to push the boundaries of pixel design and Monstro is the materialization of our relentless pursuit to make the absolute best image sensors on the planet,” says Jarred Land, President of RED Digital Cinema. “The full-frame 8K VV Monstro provides unprecedented dynamic range and breathtaking color accuracy with full support for our IPP2 pipeline.” The Monstro 8K VV will replace the current RED Dragon sensor in RED’s lineup, and customers that had previously placed an order for a Dragon 8K VV imager will be offered this new sensor instead.