The USA Landscape Photographer of the Year contest will open for entries on 15th July. The contest is open to everyone and you can enter photographs across seven categories including Classic View, Black and White, Urban Landscape, Environmental Value and My USA. The Judging Panel consists of International photography greats including Antony Spencer, Art Wolfe, Brenda Tharp, Charlie Waite, Charlotte Gibb, Christopher Burkett, Ian Plant, Jim Patterson, Justin Reznick, Lori Kincaid, Marc Adamus , Marc Muench, Paul Sanders, Sarah Marino and Tim Fitzharris. The USA Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards celebrate the American landscape only, however you don’t have to live in the USA to enter. The submission deadline is midnight PST, 15 September 2016. Do note that entry fees apply.

The Travel Photographer of the Year exhibition is set to open on July 22nd at 10 Stockwell Street, the award-winning building at the University of Greenwich, within the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site. The photographs going on display are the winning shots from the international Travel Photographer of the Year awards, one of the world’s leading photography competitions. Photographers from 114 countries have entered TPOTY, and these images give a beautiful, fascinating, entertaining and, at times, moving, depiction of life, cultures, wildlife and landscape all over the planet. Visitors can take home the winning images in the form of the latest TPOTY book, Journey Eight, which will go on sale at the exhibition. They will also be able to buy postcards and greetings cards featuring a selection of the winning images. Open seven days a week, this free-to-view exhibition runs to September 4th.

Filmmaker Anna Akana and Canon U.S.A. together announced that Akana will become the latest personality featured in the Rebel With A Cause initiative, which celebrates 25 years since the introduction of Canon’s first EOS Rebel film SLR camera. Following in the footsteps of American daredevil Nik Wallenda and Grammy Award winning record producer Swizz Beatz, Akana, a strong proponent of anti-bullying and suicide prevention, will be featured in a video dedicated to her own unique cause, debuting in September. Canon will conclude the year-long “Rebel With A Cause” programme in October with a consumer Rebel, whose cause will be chosen from the recently closed contest searching for the next great inspiration. In addition to a cash prize, the winner will have the opportunity to bring their cause to life with a documentary production, similar to those of the previous Rebels.
 

Western Digital today introduced a nduo of 256GB microSD cards, which includes the new 256GB SanDisk Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card – the fastest microSD card in its class – and the 256GB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC UHS-I card, Premium Edition. The 256GB SanDisk Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card delivers transfer speeds of up to 100MB/s, allowing users to save time transferring large files, as well as write speeds of up to 90MB/s for rapid capture of photos. The 256GB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC UHS-I card, Premium Edition, is ideal for smartphone and tablet users who don’t want to worry about running out of space on their devices. The new card features transfer speeds of up to 95MB/s. Built to perform in harsh conditions, the new cards are also waterproof, temperature-proof, shock proof, and X-ray proof. Additionally, the SanDisk microSD card line up is compatible with the SanDisk Memory Zone app for Android, giving users an easy way to manage and back up content on their device. The 256GB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC UHS-I card, Premium Edition, will be available worldwide in August 2016 with a UK MSRP of £129.99. The 256GB SanDisk Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card will be available worldwide in Q4 2016 with UK MSRP of £169.99.

Jessops are offering up to 1000 free prints upon the purchase of selected cameras from 9th June to 3rd August. The offer is valid on 6x4 prints only, ordered in-store, on a next-day service. "This offer ties in perfectly with Jessops’s recent Share You Summer campaign, designed to provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for photographers of all abilities to showcase an image they are proud of," the company said in a statement.

ExpoImaging today announced availability of an Indicator Battery Pouch that offers photographers a new way to store and keep track of a variety of rechargeable batteries, without mixing charged with depleted ones. “Photographers or anyone dealing with electronics today have to deal with keeping track of rechargeable batteries,” says Erik Sowder, ExpoImaging CEO. “The new Indicator Battery Pouch is a simple yet effective way to conveniently store and carry rechargeable batteries, and to help keep track of which ones are charged and ready to go.” The pouch incorporates adjustable hook-and-loop straps, allowing it to conveniently attach to a camera bag strap, a belt, or to hang from a stand. It can hold twelve AAA batteries, eight AA batteries, four 9V batteries, or two camera batteries. The Rogue Indicator Battery Pouch is priced at £12.99 including VAT.

Cactus have announced two second-generation V6 wireless flash transceivers. Offering compatibility with Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Pentax flashes, the Cactus V6 II now supports HSS / FP mode in the same cross-brand environment. The Cactus V6 IIs (pictured) incorporates all the functions of the V6 II, but comes with a Sony-compatible hot shoe. Additionally, both the V6 II and IIs now have an automatic LED AF-assist light. The Cactus V6 II and IIs are currently scheduled to be available in 2016 July and August respectively, priced at $95 each.

Sinar have announced the expansion of their line-up of electronically controlled precision shutters for view cameras. Designed for use with a variety of digital backs, the Sinar eShutter is billed as a "future-proof system for all lenses with shutter size 0." Sinar now offers two eShutter versions: the all new eShutter 250, with a maximum shutter speed of 1/250 second, and the well-known eShutter with a top shutter speed of 1/125 second. According to the company, a wide range of Sinaron eShutter 250 lenses will become available in July 2016.

Epson have announced it is shipping the new family of SureColor P-Series printers – the 44-inch SureColor P10000 and 64-inch SureColor P20000. Successors to the renowned Epson Stylus Pro 11880, the new SureColor P-Series printers leverage an enhanced PrecisionCore MicroTFP print head, newly developed media feeding system, and reformulated Epson UltraChrom PRO nine-colour pigment inks. The Epson SC-P10000 and SC-P20000 are currently available for $6,995 and $11,995 respectively. For the North American market, a 320GB Internal Print Server is included ($399.95), and an optional Auto Take-up Reel ($1,999.95) is available to enable roll-to-roll production.

Leica M à la carte camera personalisation programme has been expanded with the addition of the Leica M Monochrom, bringing the entire portfolio of bespoke options to this special digital rangefinder model. The camera, which incorporates a unique black and white sensor, can now be ordered with a multitude of tailored features, including a choice of classic black chrome or black paint body. Furthermore, for the first time and exclusively via the à la carte programme, customers can also select the camera body in a silver chrome finish. Orders for the personalised Leica M Monochrom à la carte camera can be placed via official Leica Stores and Boutiques, where customers are able to view a variety of samples, illustrating the full range of options offered by the programme.

Sigma have revealed availability and pricing for the new Sigma sd Quattro compact system camera. Building on the concept of the SD1 Merrill, the sd Quattro features a Sigma SA lens mount, making it compatible with all of the Sigma Global Vision lenses in the Contemporary, Art and Sports lines. Equipped with a 19.6-megapixel APS-C size sensor, the camera offers a combination of contrast-detect and phase-detect auto focus, plus a focus peaking function for manual focus enthusiasts. The high-resolution 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder features near-100% viewfinder coverage and a 1.09 magnification ratio. O-rings and environmental seals around buttons and seams prevent the intrusion of dust and water, making the camera suitable for use in adverse weather conditions. The Sigma sd Quattro will be available in early July with a suggested retail price of £799.99 including VAT and a new lens kit of the Sigma sd Quattro plus 30mm F1.4 DC HSM | Art lens will be available in early July with a suggested retail price of £999.99 including VAT.

Sigma UK have announced availbility and pricing for the new Sigma EF-630 electronic flash. Designed to work with current digital SLR cameras from Canon, Nikon and Sigma; the EF-630 is a multifunctional clip-on type flash featuring a zoomable tilt-swivel head, wireless TTL exposure control as well as high-speed sync, rear-curtain sync and modelling flash functions. Photographers can update the unit's firmware via the newly developed optional Flash USB Dock FD-11. The Sigma Electronic Flash EF-630 will be available in early July with a suggested retail price of £399.99 including VAT and the Flash USB Dock FD-11 in Sigma fit will be available in early July with a suggested retail price of £59.99.

Phase One today released an update to Capture One Pro. Version 9.2 offers a better culling workflow from selections and metadata sources to accelerate the photo editing process; and adds support for half a dozen new cameras including the Pentax K-1, the Nikon D500, the Canon EOS M10, PowerShot G5x, G7x Mark II and G9x.

Photography Blog attended yesterday's global launch of the Hasselblad X1D at the Gothenburg Museum of Art. As one of the first people outside of Hasselblad to actually get their hands on the X1D, here are my initial thoughts...

Want to see exactly what the Hasselblad X1D medium format compact system camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of photos of the Hasselblad X1D medium format compact system camera.

The Hasselblad X1D is the World's first CSC with a 50-megapixel medium-format CMOS imager. Weighing in at 725 grams, the Hasselblad X1D is lighter and more portable than a lot of 35mm full-frame DSLRs, while delivering superior image quality courtesy of its considerably larger sensor. Hand-made in Sweden, the new X1D offers 14 stops of dynamic range; Full HD video recording; integrated Wi-Fi and GPS; a sensitivity range of ISO 100-25,600; dual SD card slots; an XGA electronic viewfinder and a large 3" multi-touch display with a graphical user interface similar to that of the Hasselblad H6D. The new camera uses an entirely new line of XCD lenses, which feature auto focus and built-in leaf shutters; but is also compatible with all 12 lenses and lens accessories from the Hasselblad H System, via an adapter. Available in late August / early September, the Hasselblad X1D carries an MSRP of £5,990/€7,900/$8,995 (+VAT where applicable).