DxOMark have released their detailed findings on the Nikon D850-'s 45.7-megapixel full-frame sensor, which has become the first DSLR imager to hit 100 points on the DxOMark Sensor scale. "The introduction of the first BSI sensor in a full-frame Nikon DSLR with a super-high 45.7Mp resolution puts the Nikon D850’s image quality on par with, and often better than, medium-format cameras," the company says. "The first DSLR to hit 100 points — rather apt for Nikon’s hundredth anniversary year — puts the Nikon D850 in a class of its own for image quality." You may also want to read our own review of the Nikon D850 camera.

The Drone Major Group is the first company in the world to provide an integrated suite of products and services to every part of the rapidly-evolving global drone industry. Central to Drone Major Group is the launch of a new portal - Drone Major, the World’s first online portal which will provide critical connectivity to one of the fastest growing industries predicted to reach $100billion by 2020. The new portal facilitates the sale of drones and drone-related equipment and services throughout the world.

Jessops now offer a personalised advent calendar service. Customers can personalise their calendars with their favourite photos from the year for £6.99-£29.99. Designing an advent calendar is easy: simply select your size, format and chocolates and then add your favourite photos. The company offers a total of seven different designs and sizes to choose from.

Caldwell Photographic and Metabones have announced the Speed Booster Q666, also known as “The Devil’s Speed Booster”, exclusively for Pentax Q series cameras. The unusual nickname apparently stems from the fact that the new adapter boasts a record-breaking f/0.666 aperture and a 0.5x magnification. Like all Metabones Speed Boosters, the Speed Booster Q666 is optimised to fully account for the camera’s filter stack located near the sensor surface.  This is especially critical at the maximum aperture of f/0.666.  As a result, a huge range of optics, from vintage film lenses to the latest digital designs, will function flawlessly when adapted to any Pentax Q camera.  Planned lens mounts for the Speed Booster Q666 include a Pentax-K version and a Nikon F/G version with what Metabones claim to be "the most advanced Nikon G aperture adjustment mechanism in the industry." The Speed Booster Q666 is available from the Metabones website and its worldwide dealer network for $489.

Via Pentax Rumors

Designed for owners of fixed prime lens cameras and the growing range of CSCs, Billingham today announced the Billingham 72 camera bag. The Billingham 72 will come in five colour combinations, including Sage FibreNyte and Chocolate Leather, Khaki Canvas and Tan Leather, Burgundy Canvas and Chocolate Leather (pictured), Black Canvas and Tan Leather, and Black FibreNyte & Black Leather. 

Made in England at the Billingham factory, the 72 offers extensive protection thanks to a newly-designed arrangement of structured, highly dense foam in a continuous double layer around the whole body of the bag. This special fortified padding safeguards the entire camera and lens, keeping all edges and corners fully protected. The bag’s Quick Release System comprises a strong leather tab and brass ClogBall, enabling fast opening with one hand to retrieve the camera, while securing the equipment in transit. The Billingham 72 is available to order now for £100 (including VAT) from Billingham stockists in the UK.

The Hasselblad Masters Awards 2018 is now open to the public vote until the end of October 2017 on the company's website. This year’s competition was bigger than ever with 11 categories, including the brand new ‘Aerial’ sector that pays tribute to Hasselblad’s history of aerial photography. The public can vote by visiting Hasselblad’s website and select from the top 10 finalists in each category. Winners will not only receive the coveted accolade but will take home a state-of-the-art medium-format Hasselblad camera and have their work published in the Hasselblad Masters commemorative book.

Datacolor have launched their redesigned website, datacolor.com. In order to make visitors feel more at home, the website has been translated into four languages; English, Simplified Chinese, French and German. Additionally, the redesign makes it easier than ever for Datacolor’s visitors to learn the importance of colour management across multiple industries and is supported by colourful illustrations.

As they browse, customers are encouraged to learn more about the right solution for them through the Academy, including real-life use cases, educational resources like webinars and tutorials, events, press releases and the Datacolor blog. The blog contains richer online content such as technical tips, featured products and interesting news.

Manfrotto today announced a new range of smart traveller tripods. The Manfrotto Element Carbon range currently includes two models. Both feature a compact and sturdy carbon fibre construction that makes them strong but still very portable. The three leg-angle positions mean they are highly versatile. The twist lock mechanism enables photographers to get into the right position fast, in a few, easy moves, while the aluminium ball head is designed to deliver the fast movement when framing and a firm lock for setting equipment up exactly as you need it. The ball head mounts an Arca-type quick release plate with a 1/4"-20 camera screw on top that ensures equipment is balanced even when using zoom lenses. The Element Carbon Tripods have a payload of 4kg on the small tripod, and 8kg on the big tripod and feature a branded Manfrotto bag, an additional set of spike feet (big tripod only) and an Allen key to fix and tighten your gear. In addition, the Element Traveller Carbon Big Tripod features a detachable leg which, when removed and attached to the centre column, becomes a full-size monopod. The Element Carbon Tripods are available from £174.95.

The Lomographic Society has introduced two new editions of the Lomo'Instant film camera. These little cameras feature a built-in wide-angle lens plus close-up, fisheye and portrait lens attachments, and works with the widely available Fujifilm Instax Mini film. The Lomo'Instant Oxford offers a dark, olive green design, effortlessly combining clever creativity and classic British style; whilst the Lomo'Instant Yangon is reminiscent of the beautifully preserved glittering domes and pagodas that spread over the ancient city. Pricing starts at £79/€89.

Google has released an official sample video recorded on the new Google Pixel 2 smartphone. The Pixel 2 - and Pixel 2 XL - uses a combination of optical and electronic image stabilisation in video mode that results in impressively smooth footage even when shooting hand-held. (No wonder the Google Pixel 2 has received the highest DxOMark Mobile Video score to date.) Click through / scroll down to watch the official sample video.

Google Clips is a lightweight, AI-enabled hands-free camera that captures spontaneous moments of your daily life automatically. "You can set the camera down on the coffee table when the kids are goofing around or clip it to a chair to get a shot of your cat playing with its favourite toy," Google says. Machine learning capabilities built right into Google Clips allow the camera to learn who is important to you and what sorts of pictures you tend to keep. The device can also capture short clips or "motion photos" that last several seconds (without audio) and transfer them to your smartphone. The companion app, which will be available for Android and iOS, can also be used to operate the camera remotely. You can view and organise anything you’ve saved in Google Photos (or your favourite gallery app), and if you’re using Google Photos, you can backup unlimited clips for free. Google Clips is going to be available in the US "soon" for $249. 

Google today unveiled its Google Pixel 2 and Google Pixel 2 XL smartphones. The Google Pixel 2 has a 5" Full HD OLED touchscreen with a resolution of 441 pixels per inch and a contrast ratio of 100,000:1, whilst the Google Pixel 2 XL comes with a 6" wide-gamut display with a resolution of 538ppi and an integrated polariser. The main camera unit boasts a 12-megapixel, 1/2.6"-type sensor and an f/1.8 lens with optical image stabilisation. Dual Pixel technology enables phase-detection auto focus as well as depth mapping, which is used - together with machine learning - to create a realistic shallow DOF effect in Portrait mode, with no need for a second camera. The phones offer an HDR+ mode as well as combined optical and electronic image stabilisation for videos. The Google Pixel 2 camera has received a DxOMark Mobile score of 98 (99 for photos and 96 for videos) - the highest-ever score awarded to a smartphone camera. The Google Pixel 2 comes in three colours with prices starting at $649, whilst the Google Pixel 2 XL will be available in two colourways, priced from $849.

From 6^th to 9^th October, 100 talented young photojournalists will come together for the annual Eddie Adams Workshop, which is celebrating its 30^th anniversary this year. Since its inception, Nikon has been a sponsor of the workshop that offers a unique learning environment for young photojournalists while honouring the legacy of Eddie Adams himself. The workshop, which is also known as the “Barnstorm” due to its location at a rustic upstate New York farm, continues to be the only tuition-free forum of its kind, inviting 100 students specially selected from around the world based merely on the quality of their photos. Many alumni of the programme have been awarded with the industry’s most prestigious accolades from Pulitzer Prizes, honours from the Overseas Press Club, World Press Photo, ICP and many more. In addition to sponsoring the Eddie Adams Workshop, Nikon will award one deserving-student with top-of-the-line professional Nikon equipment suited for a modern-day photojournalist. The winner will be determined by a panel of judges who will select based on the work that the students create during the four-day workshop. This year’s kit will include the new Nikon D850 DSLR, SB-5000 Speedlight as well as the AF-S NIKKOR 20mm f/1.8G ED, the AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR, the AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR and the AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED lenses.

Adobe today launched Photoshop Elements 2018, which offers a number of new features and improvements over Elements 15. "This release focuses on enhancing the experience even further for memory keepers with hassle free organization, automated editing and some fun new Guided Edits that walk you through how to edit and create," says Bob Gager, Product Management Team Leader for Photoshop Elements. Adobe Elements Organiser 2018 now automatically curates your photos based on quality, faces, subjects etc., and allows curated photos to be turned into dynamic slideshows with just one click. The program offers a number of new Guided Edits and adds a brand new Auto Selection tool that makes precise photo selections easier than ever. Plus, Adobe Photoshop Elements can now "open closed eyes like magic," meaning that the program can automatically copy the open eyes from one photo and blend them into another to create the perfect shot. Adobe Photoshop Elements 2018 is available now for $100.

Pond5 — the world’s largest marketplace for royalty-free HD and 4K video — and the Filmmakers Alliance have teamed up to host a short-film challenge with more than $4,000 in prizes. To take part in the contest, entitled "How Will You Tell Your Story," entrants need to create a short film (2-5 minutes) incorporating footage from the Pond5 collection (available to participants free of charge for use in the competition). The top 10 films entered will be screened at the awards ceremony, which will take place at the Montalban Theater on 8th November. The Grand Prize is $2,000 plus an annual Pond5 membership (worth $499), with additional prizes for first and second place winners. As always, we suggest that you read the terms and conditions before entering your work.

Adorama will be showcasing select photography gear and accessories from Adorama-exclusive brands Flashpoint, Orlit, 3Pod and Glow at PDN PhotoPlus Expo 2017. Only sold at Adorama, Flashpoint is known for its budget-friendly studio flash solutions. Attendees to the PhotoPlus Expo can visit the Adorama booth for a demo of the newest monolights, including the Studio 400 and Studio 300, the XPLOR 600 HSS TTL battery-powered monolight (pictured), the eVOLV 200 TTL Pocket Flash and the Rapid 600 HSS monolight with built-in radio remote system, alongside additional Flashpoint accessories. Orlit offers a lineup of TTL and HSS studio monolights designed for Canon RT, Nikon and Sony photographers looking for powerful lighting with wireless control. PPE attendees can get demos of the Orlit RoveLight RT 610 TTL monolight, the ORLIT RoveLight RT 601 HSS battery-powered monolight, and the ORLIT RoveLight RT 800AC TTL studio monolight with integrated RT radio remote.

Sigma will showcase its full range of Sigma Global Vision lenses, including a brand-new addition to the line, at the upcoming PDN PhotoPlus Expo 2017 Expo held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City from 26-28 October 2017. The company will also have on hand its Sigma Cine high-speed Primes and Zooms as well as the Foveon sensor-based sd Quattro and Quattro H cameras. Last but not least, a distinguished line-up of Sigma Pro speakers will take to the Sigma stage and offer attendees a behind-the-lens look at the techniques and technology that captured some of the year’s most outstanding photographs in the areas of aviation, editorial, glamour, landscapes, travel and weddings (click through / scroll down for the schedule). PPE 2017 attendees who visit Sigma at booth 837 will have a chance to enter and win a Sigma grand giveaway – a 24-70mm F2.8 Art lens – an MSRP value of $1299.

ON1 today announced a new version of ON1 Photo RAW coming at the end of the month. Key new features will include HDR exposure blending with automatic frame alignment, pano stitching, a number of new masking tools, selective noise reduction, an updated and more modern graphical user interface, and more. The free free ON1 Photo for Mobile app enables users to take their best photographs with them on the go in order to help them share their portfolios. It can also sync new photos taken on phones back to the desktop so those photos are ready for editing. THe developers have also added support for the Nikon D850, Olympus EM-10 III and Panasonic DMC-G85 cameras, plus a number of new lenses. ON1 Photo RAW 2018 will be available for download as a free public beta on 6th October. The final version can be pre-ordered for $119.99. Previous owners of any ON1 app (or ON1 plug-in) can upgrade for $79.99.

The full line-up of professional photographers and product ambassadors appearing at CameraWorld LIVE 2017 has been announced. On Saturday 28th Oct, London’s Biggest Camera Show will welcome David Noton, Ross Grieve, Simeon Quarrie, Jay McLaughlin, Jeremy Martin, Rob Pugh, Andy Astbury and Jakob Gronkjaer, along with just over 50 brands of cameras, accessories and photo imaging hardware. Additionally, Fujifilm Ambassador Damien Lovegrove will be offering a very limited number of one-to-one GFX 50S studio sessions where attendees will experience the raw power of the GFX’s 51.4 MP medium-format sensor. Matt Hart, Fujifilm X Photographer, will be leading photo walks around the Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane areas focusing on street photography, whilst Phottix experts will be leading 2 photo walks during the day where they will be demonstrating their latest lighting products.