German lens maker Oprema Jena has launched a campaign today on the crowdfunding site Indiegogo to resurrect the Biotar 58mm f2, promising to faithfully recreate the original lens’ optics down to its unique 17-aperture-blade design. The Biotar 58mm is Oprema Jena’s second lens project, following its successful Kickstarter campaign to revive the Biotar 75mm f1.5. The Biotar 58 should be ready for the market in October 2018 at an expected retail price of $1,999.

Techart has unveiled the World’s first autofocus adapter for Canon EF lenses and the Fujifilm GFX 50S camera. The Techart EF-GFX adapter provides autofocus function as well as in-body aperture control for using Canon EF-mount lenses on the Fujifilm GFX body. It currently supports AF-S mode for shooting, and in-lens image stabilisation where applicable. Focal length and aperture data will also be communicated to the body via the adapter. Priced at $499, the Techart Canon EF – Fujifilm GFX Autofocus Adapter is now available for preorder at the website below.

Lensbaby have announced the launch of the Composer Pro II with Sweet 80 Optic, an 80mm f/2.8 tilting lens designed for portrait photographers or anyone looking for selective focus at longer focal lengths. By bending the depth of field around photographers’ subjects, the Sweet 80 achieves Lensbaby’s classic “sweet spot” effect of sharp focus on the subject while the surrounding area fills with compelling streaky bokeh. The new optic features an internal 12-blade aperture which can be stopped down all the way to f/16. The Composer Pro II with Sweet 80 Optic will be available for purchase in early October 2017 for $379.95. For those who already own an Optic Swap compatible Lensbaby lens body, the Sweet 80 Optic will be available separately for $199.95.

Want to see exactly what the new Fujifilm XF 8-16mm F2.8 R LM WR lens looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Fujifilm XF 8-16mm F2.8 R LM WR lens.

Want to see exactly what the new Fujifilm GF 250mm F4 R LM OIS WR lens looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Fujifilm GF 250mm F4 R LM OIS WR lens.

Billed as the World's smallest studio light, the Profoto A1 is actually a hotshoe-mountable 76Ws flash with a round head, high-speed synchronisation and a recycling time of 1.2sec. Thanks to a smart magnetic mount built into the head, light shaping tools and modifiers can be clicked on and off quickly and easily. The flash also has a zoom function that allows you to make fine adjustments to the spread of light by simply twisting the zoom ring on the head, and for accuracy it has a built-in modelling light. The user interface is simple and intuitive with a large high-contrast display at its centre. The A1 has its own Li-ion high capacity battery built-in which lasts up to four times longer than AA batteries with no performance fade. The flash is available in Canon and Nikon versions (with a Sony variant coming in 2018), and offers AirTTL and Air Remote compatibility for off-camera use. The Profoto A1 can be preordered for $995.

BenQ today launched the SW271, a 4K UHD 27” monitor offering industry-standard HDR10 support and advanced colour performance for photographers. Covering 99% of Adobe RGB, and 100% of both sRGB and Rec. 709, the SW271 delivers Delta E ≦ 2 performance with its 10-bit IPS panel and advanced 14-bit 3D lookup table (LUT). In addition, Technicolor Colour Certified has been installed to meet strict colour accuracy standards used in Hollywood and entertainment media. SW271’s colour characteristics can be customised via hardware calibration with X-Rite or Datacolor calibrators and BenQ Palette Master Element calibration software. Equipped with USB Type-Cconnectivity, the SW271 requires a single cable for calibration and video transmission. The BenQ SW271 monitor also features an SD card reader, USB 3.1, USB Type-C, HDMI 2.0, and DisplayPort 1.4 ports.

Earlier this month, Fotospeed were back with Foto Fest 2017, their celebration of photography and printing. Print enthusiasts from around the country joined Fotospeed and four leading photographers at The Edge at The University of Bath on the 10th of September, for a series of talks which gave insight into the stories behind their most famous shots. Attendees were also joined by leading photography brands such as Kaiser, Canon, Panasonic, and Lee Filters. Toby Herlinger, Sales and Marketing Director at Fotospeed, said ‘We’re delighted that Foto Fest 2017 has once again been a success after our first event in 2016. We feel it’s very important that we take every opportunity to promote the importance of printing and to help bring together and inspire photographers who share this passion. We’re already really looking forward to 2018 and seeing how far we can take Foto Fest and inspire more people to print their photography”.

Tenba have launched their new Air Case Attaché cases, which provide the strength and rigidity of a hard case at a fraction of the weight.Air Cases are shippable and airline checkable, so they deliver the same safety as a hard case, but with smoother, steadier performance and better usability and when travelling. They also solve many of the common issues with plastic hard cases by having stronger, smoother rolling wheels, more customisable interior layouts with softer padding, rolling luggage handles that extend to a more comfortable walking height, zippered interior pockets to organise cables and smaller accessories, and much more.

Gary Fong has introduced the new SnootSkin, which instantly converts the Lightsphere Collapsible light shaper into a snoot. The black lining of the SnootSkin blocks light from spilling through the sides of the flash, allowing light to be isolated and directed precisely. For more precise spot lighting, a grid insert is included for an even tighter beam. The system is designed to hold colour inserts inside a built-in slot that holds up to five colours. These can be combined to create a wide palette of colour choices. The current available colours are Red, Green, Blue, and Warming Filters in full CTO and half CTO.  The optional colour kit also includes an 18% grey tab for precise custom white balance. Prices start at $59.95.

The new OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock, which features no less than 13 connection ports, is shipping now. The dock

takes full advantage of the cutting-edge performance of Thunderbolt 3 technology with throughput up to 40Gb/s of bandwidth and allows users to realize the maximum utility of Thunderbolt 3 equipped Macs. The 13 ports offer the capability to charge mobile devices, connect one 5K or two 4K displays, add external storage (including legacy devices such as FireWire drives), import photos and videos from SD cards, access wired networks via Gigabit Ethernet, and enjoy audio – all through a single Thunderbolt 3 cable. The OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock can be the foundation of a perfect custom display setup, providing the ability to drive the latest- generation 5K displays, two 4K displays or a combination of 4K, HD and other displays with the Mini DisplayPort (mDP) with DisplayPort++ support, and additional Thunderbolt 3 port.

The Zoner Photo Studio X autumn update offers a unique retouching brush whose abilities highly surpass other editors´ similar tools. This brush is the first in the World to enable combining multiple masks as well as multiple strokes within one mask. Each individual stroke, meanwhile can be edited or deleted at any time without reducing the image’s quality. The Editor module has also gained new features. Users can now apply basic edits to colours, overall exposure, and exposure levels and curves within separate adjustment layers that they can then edit at any time. The autumn update also adds a new Video tool plus pressure support for graphics tablets.

ImageRights is launching a dedicated copyright registration service. For the first time, any photographer or agency can register their images with the United States Copyright Office through ImageRights. (Previously, only members had access to the service.) The application is quick, taking only a couple of minutes, simple with a high-tech software that automatically fills out the form, and most importantly accurate. With error checking technology, users can be assured their applications were filled out with all necessary information to protect images if an infringement claim is ever needed to be pursued. “We strongly believe in photographers and agencies registering their images with the US Copyright Office and wanted to make our service readily available to all,” said Joe G. Naylor, President and CEO of ImageRights. “If the USCO form is not submitted the right way or the correct documentation of your work is not kept on file, photographers can be left vulnerable when pursuing an infringement claim. With our services they are 100% protected.”

Photographers and agencies can register their images with the US Copyright Office for $99 plus the Copyright Office filing fee.

Tamron today announced the new, moisture resistant Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD lens for Canon and Nikon dSLRs. This image-stabilised, full-frame telephoto zoom lens features an ultrasonic AF motor, wide and ribbed zoom and focus rings, an AF/MF switch, a distance scale sheltered behind a clear plastic window, and a zoom lock switch that prevents zoom creep during transport. The optical design includes 3 LD (Low Dispersion) lens elements for greater aberration reduction and Tamron’s original eBAND Coating for superior anti-reflection performance. The 100-400mm is fully compatible with Tamron’s 1.4X tele converter that multiplies the lens’s focal length, and the Tamron TAP-in Consolewhich enables lens customisations for focus adjustments, VC mechanism adjustments and more. Additionally, an Arca Swiss compatible tripod mount is available as an optional accessory. Availability and pricing will be communicated at a later date.

The 8th Lishui Photography Festival will take place from 15 to 19 November 2017 in the city of Lishui, China. Created in 2004 by the Lishui City Council and the China Photographers Association, the Lishui Photography Festival has become a biennial event from its second edition, in 2005, and has continued to grow over the years. Designed as a unique platform in China, the Lishui Photography Festival seeks to bring together all of the actors from the photography community: photographers, exhibition curators, editors, collectors, suppliers of photography equipment, etc. This year’s ambitious programme includes about forty exhibitions, an international seminar, screenings, debates, conferences, portfolio evaluations, workshops and a photography supplies fair, as well as an exhibition and auction of vintage cameras from the 19th and 20th centuries, an auction of photographic artworks and a photo books fair. Click through / read on for the details.

Adobe has revealed advancements to its industry-leading Adobe Creative Cloud video tools and services to be showcased at IBC 2017. 

The company will highlight the latest innovations in virtual reality, animation, motion graphics, editing, collaboration and Adobe Stock - all available later this year. The new capabilities coming later this year to Adobe Creative Cloud for video include motion graphics templates, Character Animator, VR video creation, Team Projects and Adobe Audition. Many of these features are powered by Adobe Sensei, the company’s artificial intelligence and machine learning framework. Adobe will preview these advancements at Stand 7.G27 in the RAI Amsterdam Convention Center and at 140 partner booths from September 15-19 at IBC.